Of the upcoming season on “Inside the NBA,” Charles Barkley said, “Unless Ernie (Johnson) changes his mind, next year is my last year, 100 percent.” Mark J. Rebilas / IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
By The Athletic NBA Staff
Sept. 4, 2026 Updated 4:23 pm EDT
The 2026-27 NBA season will be Charles Barkley’s final season on “Inside the NBA.”
Maybe.
Barkley said on an episode of “The Bill Simmons Podcast” released Thursday that the next season of “Inside the NBA” would be the last one for both him and host Ernie Johnson.
Barkley told Simmons that Johnson asked him to stay for two more years before last season, as “Inside the NBA” was moving from TNT to ESPN.
“I said: ‘I love you, man. You’re the best. I’ll stay,’” Barkley said. “So right now, unless Ernie changes his mind, next year is my last year, 100 percent.”
Barkley, 63, said he intended to retire at 60 but was convinced to stay while the show was negotiating a new deal. Then, when TNT lost NBA broadcast rights and ESPN acquired the license to “Inside,” Barkley said he decided to return to the show so that the off-camera staff could retain their jobs.
“I really love the people. I’ve been with them for 26, 27 years,” he said.
The popular show, which also features Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith, debuted in 1989. Johnson became the host the next year, and Barkley joined the show in 2000. The broadcast schedule for the upcoming NBA season has not yet been announced.
Sep 4, 2026
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