While the Dallas Mavericks grabbed most of the headlines for steamrolling the Boston Celtics in Game 4 last night, it was an update from Charles Barkley that left the basketball world in mourning. Despite having the chance to earn an additional $10 million/year if he became a free agent, the Chuckster announced that next season will be his last on TV. As hard as it is to accept, it was always a possibility with TNT losing the TV rights for the NBA. Moreover, the 61-year-old has always stated he never wanted to work till he was 70. Nevertheless, before dropping the most heartbreaking news of the year, the “most accessible star ever” made an honest promise to his loyal fans.

During his recent appearance on Season 4 of My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman, Barkley shared that, regardless of the situation, he will always warmly greet his fans. “If somebody take the time to come up to me to say hello to me, I am gonna say hello,” Chuck told his friend David Letterman on the Netflix special.

This is something he has consistently done in the past. Furthermore, he expressed appreciation for people in real, impactful roles, expressing how he doesn’t have such a job himself.

Speaking of his job, Barkley said, “I played basketball. I am not a teacher, I am not a fireman. I am not a policeman. I am not somebody in the armed services. Those are really important and significant jobs. We ain’t got no real job. We are overpaid and underworked and we’re the luckiest son of b***s in the world.” He also mentioned how their lives don’t suck even when they lose as they still get paid. “It’s great to lift a city up and make somebody’s day. But when you start taking it too serious, you need to take a look at yourself.”

This is in line with his infamous take during his playing days on basketball players being role models. In 1993, Nike and Barkley came up with an advertisement, in which Barkley stated, “I’m not a role model… Just because I dunk a basketball doesn’t mean I should raise your kids.” But inspiring millions of people should also be considered a real job, right?

In the same show, Chuck, who is now 61 years old, confessed that he is tired of his job at TNT. He confessed that he would rather watch ‘Law & Order’ than a basketball game. The Phoenix Suns legend has always mentioned that he won’t be working till the age of 70 but just last year, he signed a 10-year deal with TNT Sport. It is understandable why Chuck made this decision. Has the age or the tension over the NBA rights taken a toll on Chuck?

Was Charles Barkley looking for a new job before announcing retirement?

Previously, Charles Barkley joked about how the tense situations at TNT Sports have left him wondering whether he should get on LinkedIn and start looking for a real job. “I wish I had a job next year… I put on my resume, they all like ‘You never had a real job’. I said that’s not my fault,” Barkley said on the TNT show.

As per reports, Amazon was willing to offer a $20 million per year deal, which would have doubled his salary at TNT. But it seems he’s had enough. Chuck admitted that regardless of what happens with the NBA rights deal, he will no longer be a part of the broadcasting team. He has been a part of the company for 24 years, ever since he retired as a player.

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the Reese-Clark rivalry and more, watch this video.