Charles Barkley has been in the spotlight recently due to the expiration of his NBA rights contract with TNT and speculation about whether he could sign a big media “free agent” deal with another network to continue commentating on basketball.

However, Sir Charles put an end to all the rumors over the weekend, announcing that he is planning to retire and that next season – the final year of TNT's NBA rights – will be his final season on television.

BREAKING: Charles Barkley has announced that next year will be his last year on television. Follow.

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— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) June 15, 2024

“TNT, all the people that work here, NBA Television, you've been so good to me for 24 years,” Barkley said during the postgame broadcast of Game 4 of the NBA Finals. “There's been a lot of turmoil at our network over the last few months. I've talked to all the other networks and I don't want to go anywhere but TNT. No matter what happens, I've made the decision that next year will be my last year on television.”

Barkley told his iconic Inside the NBA crew that he wanted to hear the news from him, not from other media, but even if TNT retains the rights (which seems unlikely at this point), Barkley said he plans to pass the baton to another former player to take his place.

While there are many unknowns surrounding broadcast rights deals and what will happen to the most popular postgame show in sports, one thing is certain: Charles Barkley will be greatly missed on television screens.