Chuck has declared where his loyalties lie. The veteran analyst has spent more than two decades (since 2000) of his broadcasting career working with TNT. And he is clearly not ready to say goodbye yet. Before the NBA kicks off its $76 billion deal term in the 2025-26 season, Charles Barkley will have to make a decision. However, all of that currently hangs on one condition.

Inside the NBA will continue the same way, thanks to the new deal Turner has made with ESPN. However, that didn’t greenlight the entire cast’s availability. As for Chuck, he has once again asserted his loyalty to TNT, but there’s one concern. 

“I want to thank NBC, especially Mark Lazarus and Greg Hugh, who offered me a contract. I want to thank the guys and Amazon y’all been amazing. But my heart is always and will be at Turner Sports,” Barkley started. That sentiment has been clear for months now. As soon as the tension of TNT’s failure to get NBA broadcasting rights hit, Barkley opened up about his wish to walk out, not from the network but his career. He had declared he wouldn’t work for anyone if it wasn’t TNT. 

He put a pause on his retirement, supposedly received deals from other networks, one even worth $100 million, refused them all to fight for the Inside the NBA crew of 200, and made a return to the show for the 2024-25 season. Through it all, his intent remained the same: continuing with TNT. But what all the hurdles couldn’t hinder, one factor seems ready to slash single-handed.

Speaking of TNT and ESPN, he added on The Steam Room Podcast, “I’m hoping that this thing comes together and I can stay with TNT and ESPN but as I’ve said, it’s all going to be dictated on my workload. I’m not going to work more as I get older.” Chuck, who had no plans of working past 60, is 61 now. And at this stage, he sure wouldn’t have like what former ESPN employee, Dan Patrick had to say. 

When Barkley arrived on his podcast around December, Patrick had told the 76ers star that he was going to be “working a lot more than you think you’re gonna be working … I know what they do.” Not helping!

However, Chuck has mentioned that he has several close friends, including Mike Wilbon, Tony Kornheiser, Bryant Gumbel, and more, whom he can seek for advice. Earlier in December, Chuck even admitted that he was open to other options.

Charles Barkley was weighing in on his options 

In an interview on The Dan Patrick Show, Chuck revealed that he hadn’t yet decided about his appearance on Inside the NBA when it shifts to ESPN. Furthermore, he also alluded to the fact that ESPN has yet to give him a schedule, which bothered him.

The thing with Barkley is that he had always received a proper schedule from TNT. And getting one from ESPN under which Barkley might have to work, would have solved a lot of doubts.

“I wanna know what they’re expecting. Are we gonna have the same schedule? Are we going to have to do ABC, ESPN, and TNT? Because TNT, I think they originally wanted to keep doing something. So I’m not gonna be doing both. I’m not gonna be doing ABC, ESPN and TNT. That’s not gonna happen,” Barkley explained. So before making the decision, he decided to look for other options and he did have a few meetings as he mentioned.

However, on the latest episode of The Steam Room podcast, he made himself quite clear on where he stands regarding his options with Amazon and NBC despite such enticing offers. But he has often publicly expressed his distaste for ESPN’ work ethics. It looks like ESPN would have a better chance to land Chuck on the roster only if they can help fit him into his preferred schedule.