Charles Barkley Says He’s Retiring Alongside Ernie Johnson After Next NBA Season
The pair have been on a legendary run on 'Inside the NBA' since 2000, when Barkley joined the show a decade into Johnson hosting.
Charles Barkley, alongside Ernie Johnson, announced his retirement from Inside the NBA following the upcoming NBA season. Barkley expressed his intention to retire permanently, stating, "Right now, unless Ernie changes his mind, next year is my last year for 100%." Ernie Johnson has been a host of Inside the NBA since 1990, when TNT acquired broadcasting rights, with Barkley joining the show a decade later after retiring from the league himself.
The show has become a major post-game retention vehicle, with an average of 3.5 million viewers following the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals' game six, compared to 8.1 million for the game itself. Barkley had previously announced his retirement amid uncertainty over Warner Bros. Discovery retaining NBA broadcasting rights, but Johnson convinced him to remain after the show moved under the Disney umbrella.
Barkley's decision to retire was influenced by Johnson's encouragement, as he wanted to ensure the show's crew maintained their jobs behind the scenes. Johnson will be succeeded by someone who can handle a chaotic ship, as analysts Shaquille O'Neal and Kenny Smith have shown no signs of retiring. Other potential candidates for Barkley's seat include Jeff Teague, Kevin Garnett, and Richard Jefferson.
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