Charles Barkley announces potential retirement from Inside the NBA

Charles Barkley has announced that the upcoming 2026-27 NBA season will likely be his final year on ‘Inside the NBA’. Speaking on ‘The Bill Simmons Podcast’, Barkley indicated that his departure is tied to longtime host Ernie Johnson, stating, “Me and Ernie are a package deal.”

Barkley noted that unless Johnson changes his mind, both men intend to step away after next season. Barkley, 63, previously expressed intentions to retire at 60 but remained with the program to assist during its transition from TNT to ESPN and to help preserve jobs for long-term production staff.

‘Inside the NBA’ also features Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith. The show has been a staple of basketball coverage since 1989, with Johnson joining as host in 1990 and Barkley joining in 2000.