“I’m going to be working like a dog into my mid-60s,” Charles Barkley once told the SI podcast how he would be in his tiring sixties! The voice, just like the body, isn’t ready to give up for some rest. Chuck has refused an offer worth nearly $100 million to keep working with TNT, where he has worked for more than two decades. This speaks volumes about his loyalty to the crew. As the NBA staple show moves to ESPN, Chuck’s concerns with the deal remain unresolved. He has already rejected enthusiastic host Stephen A. Smith and Pat McAfee. And he has another condition that must be met for him to shift to ESPN.

Charles Barkley has already declared that he is 62 and doesn’t plan on working long hours or for a long time. Yes, he said the same before turning 60, and then went on to sign a massive 10-year deal with Turner. Why? Well, just like the fans, the veteran analyst might not yet be ready to say goodbye to the crew. Moreover, his conditions were perhaps met by the company. As the crew will soon shift to ESPN, Barkley has demanded a clear schedule.

“Hey it’s an honor and a privilege to work for ESPN but I’m not going to be going on First Take Get Up Sports Center Pat McAfee That shit’s not going to happen,” he said on SI Media With Jimmy Traina. While Smith is the face of the NBA, Pat McAfee has been one of the important analysts in the company. He is thrilled to join ESPN. However, he isn’t ready to do all the shows. He also alluded to TNT having plans for a show with the crew. And he is certainly not interested in doing both. 

When the host asked if he would be able to take up a one-hour show a week and an ESPN show, Chuck agreed. However, he also highlighted that the team will not be able to talk about the game highlights. “What are we going to talk about cuz we can’t show highlights…That’s something you have to factor in also And listen the public is not stupid. They’re not like ‘Hey let’s turn off the NBA game and watch these four dummies talk about something else’. Right And that’s been a concern of mine,” Chuck said.

While Chuck has made himself clear on his retirement plans, he has had this for quite some time. On the other hand, his TNT colleague has shown new hope to fans for the crew to be together for more years.

Ernie Johnson dismissed the enticing offer for Inside The NBA fans

Just last month, the TNT show host appeared for an interview with Dan Patrick. During the show, the former ESPN employee Patrick informed that he too will be taking Chuck’s favorable path. The 68-year-old admitted that he is looking to move away from the game in three years. He will be 71 years old. Speaking on that, he suggested Johnson is the same age as him. The TNT host was inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2023. “Why don’t we go out together?” he suggested.

The remark, though seemingly casual, carried weight. It hinted at a possible end to an era that has defined basketball coverage for nearly two decades. The chemistry between Chuck, Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal on TNT’s Inside the NBA has become legendary, often cited as the gold standard for studio shows. If Barkley and Johnson were to leave around the same time, it would mark a significant shift, not just for TNT but for fans who grew up watching their banter, insights, and offbeat humor night after night.

However, as enticing as this was, Johnson had to refuse. “It’s not like… We’re gonna hang up here, and suddenly I’m. I have retired. No,” Johnson said. In another interview, he ensured that the crew is unlikely to break, and he hopes to be with the team for a long time, even if retirement is inevitable. Even if the situation looks shaky with Barkley’s comments on the work schedule, the crew is working hard to stay together.