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Charles Barkley made headlines last month when he insisted that the upcoming season of Inside the NBA will be his final one on the storied studio show.
Like many, however, Shaquille O’Neal will believe Barkley is retiring when he sees it.
“Once somebody taught Charles how to go viral, it was over,” O’Neal told Front Office Sports Tonight’s Bridget Condon. “So do I believe it? No, I don’t believe it. But if it happens, it was a great run, we had fun. But I don’t believe that.”
O’Neal’s skepticism is well earned.
After all, this isn’t the first time that Barkley has announced retirement plans, only to return to the show he’s starred on since 2000. Prior to last month, the most recent example came during the 2024 playoffs, as the Hall of Fame forward announced that the following season would be his final one on TV amid the uncertainty that surrounded TNT losing its portion of the league’s rights package.
Ultimately, Barkley returned as TNT Sports reached an agreement to license the popular studio show to ESPN, in exchange for a collection of college football and men’s basketball games. ESPN recently announced plans for Inside the NBA to expand its schedule to 25 appearances and more early-season games during the upcoming season—both of which Barkley had publicly advocated for.
Nevertheless, Barkley told The Bill Simmons Podcast in September that unless Ernie Johnson changes his own retirement plans, then he’ll be following suit, referring to him and Inside the NBA’s longtime host as a “package deal.” A source told FOS’s Ryan Glasspiegel last month that Johnson has yet to finalize a decision.
The door appears to be open for Barkley to once again renege on a “retirement” announcement—something he’s already acknowledged. Asked by Condon whether he believes Inside the NBA could even continue to exist without Barkley on it, O’Neal made his stance clear:“No.”
But as for ESPN making good on Barkley’s wish for an expanded Inside the NBA schedule, the Hall of Fame center took on a different tone.
“Charles, shut your face,” O’Neal said. “ESPN, I love you guys.”
