Tuesday, June 16, 2026

No LIV: Charles Barkley To Stay With ‘Inside the NBA’

  • Superstar analyst ends flirtation with upstart LIV Golf.
  • Barkley says he’ll stay with Turner for the rest of his TV career.
Charles-Barkley-watches-shot-at-LIV-Golf-practice-round
John Jones-USA TODAY Sports

Charles Barkley’s contract flirtation with upstart LIV Golf is over.

The superstar TNT analyst told the New York Post he’s staying with the Emmy Award-winning “Inside the NBA.”

“I want to thank Greg Norman and LIV for their interest in me,” said Barkley Friday. “I wish those guys great success and nothing but the best. But, in my best interest, and being fair to Turner — because Turner and basketball have given me every single thing in my life — It is best for me to move on and I’m staying with Turner for the rest of my TV career.”

On Thursday, Barkley played in the pro-am for LIV’s second U.S. event at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster. Afterwards, he met with Will Staeger, LIV’s Chief Media Officer.

“We enjoyed having Charles out at the LIV pro-am yesterday. He’s a larger-than-life presence and he shares and appreciates our vision to grow the sport of golf,” Staeger told Front Office Sports. “So we were happy and appreciative that he was able to come out and join us on the links at Bedminster.”

Barkley has three years and $30 million left on his Turner Sports deal, which runs through the end of the NBA’s 2024-2025 season.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

USGA, Shinnecock Hills Golf Club

Shinnecock Ready to Shine As Unofficial U.S. Open Anchor Site

Shinnecock last hosted in the U.S. Open in 2018.

Can the Knicks Get Another Enormous Star Discount?

Karl-Anthony Towns is up next for an extension.
Jun 8, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Director Spike Lee watches courtside during game three of the 2026 NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Opinion

Knicks’ Championship Rings Should Be for Team—Not Celebrities

Some celebrities believe Spike Lee deserves a championship ring.

Featured Today

Wisconsin Badgers forward Laila Edwards, left, and defender Caroline Harvey celebrate after Edwards scored against the Minnesota Gophers in the first period in a game Saturday, February 8, 2025, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin.

Two Rookies Are Rewriting Women’s Hockey Stardom

Their platforms are a mutual boon for the PWHL and its players.
Ai sports slop
June 5, 2026

How Sports Became Ground Zero for AI Slop

The category is the perfect breeding ground for AI content churn.
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup - UEFA Qualifiers - Group A - Germany v Luxembourg - Rhein-Neckar-Arena, Sinsheim, Germany - October 10, 2025 Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann
June 4, 2026

‘Weird Corners of the World’: How to Find a World Cup Coach

National associations look for a winning record—and also hope for serendipity.
June 3, 2026

The Elite High Schools Hosting World Cup Teams

Spain, Morocco, Croatia, and Switzerland chose schools as their tournament base camps.
Dec 21, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; General view of a Fox Sports broadcast camera before the game between the Jacksonville Jaguars Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.

With Increased NFL Rights Fees Looming, Fox in Deal to Buy Roku

The significant outlay arrived as a renegotiation approaches for NFL rights.
June 12, 2026

Trump Administration Signs Off on Paramount-WBD Merger

The DOJ blessed the highly controversial pact Friday. 
June 14, 2026

World Cup Opens With Record TV Audiences for Fox, Telemundo

Viewership soared on both English- and Spanish-language platforms.
Sponsored

How Long Acre Tavern Is Built to Handle Soccer’s Biggest Moments

Learn how Spectrum Business helps keep Long Acre Tavern in Times Square connected and ready to serve soccer fans from around the world.
Jun 10, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby (8) scores on a rebound against San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper (2) in the fourth quarter during game four of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
June 12, 2026

Epic Knicks Game 4 Comeback Drew 20.9 Million ABC Viewers

The instant classic extends a heady viewership run for ABC . 
Sponsored

How Long Acre Tavern Is Built to Handle Soccer’s Biggest Moments

Learn how Spectrum Business helps keep Long Acre Tavern in Times Square connected and ready to serve soccer fans from around the world.
Jun 7, 2026; Paris, France; Alexander Zverev of Germany kisses the trophy after winning the men’s singles final against Flavio Cobolli of Italy on day 15 at Stade Roland Garros. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images
June 12, 2026

French Open Finals Ratings Fall Without Star Power

The men’s final dropped 25% from 2025.
Atlanta, GA - March 7, 2026 - Turner Studios: Shaquille O'Neal , Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley during the 2026 NBA marketing campaign featuring Inside the NBA on ESPN.
June 12, 2026

Burke Magnus: ‘Inside the NBA’ Was ESPN’s ‘Missing Piece’

ESPN has been thrilled with the studio show’s NBA Finals debut.