Last year, Charles Barkley’s retirement saga became a hot topic! From retiring to un-retiring and blasting network executives, Chuck did it all. After a successful 16-year spell in the NBA, the 76ers legend has spent 25 years as a broadcaster. In a recent candid interview, he once again opens up about potential rumors. However, this was after he aired his issues with a show, which was apparently axed after low ratings. The show in question was King Charles.

“Well, we didn’t get a shot! We were only going to do like x amount of shows. It was like that’s it. That was it. We were only doing like 10 shows and that was never something we were going to keep doing.” On the street of New York, in a candid interview, Charles Barkley spoke about his CNN talk show with Gayle King, which was canceled after just six months. At the time, reports suggested that low ratings were a reason for the removal of the Auburn alum’s show.

But as per the 1993 MVP, that was never the case. On Adam’s Apple YouTube channel, Sir Charles further answered, denying being interested in doing a night show. “I don’t want to do that, man; come on, I don’t want to work more.” After decades in broadcasting, is there any other item on Charles Barkley’s bucket list? The answer is not any new show, but retirement. “Retire! That’s the only thing I want to do.”

Just like his war of words with WBD executives, the TNT analyst also had a similar situation with CNN executives. “You know the type of boneheads I work with?” Barkley said on an episode of The Mike Missanelli Podcast, per The New York Post. “First of all, it wasn’t canceled. I talk to Gayle all the time. They haven’t told us we were canceled. That’s how stupid these people are.”

Despite his displeasure with the network, Charles Barkley worked with CNN for one reason only

King Charles aired 14 episodes, averaging just 459,000 total viewers and 106,000 in the 25-54 demographic. On Nov. 27, 2023, the show launched with 501,000 viewers, the lowest of any CNN Primetime debuts last year according to The Hollywood Reporter, which called it a ‘flop’. However, after the debut, the executives stated they planned to air it through the early spring, but Charles Barkley explained that was never the case, as the show was a temporary gig.

His reasoning for joining the temporary gig was pretty simple. “They are trying to pair Gayle King and me… We don’t have anything set in stone. I’m only considering it because of my respect for Gayle.” The rumors of two doing the show started in early 2023 so the 76ers legend clarified his stance for hosting King Charles.

“I just want to help the company because obviously it is a sh– show right now… Anything I can do to help.” After just 14 episodes, the show on CNN ended. As per Charles Barkley, he has no interest in doing any other show. And he can’t wait to kick back and relax and move away from the broadcasting career.