11-time NBA All-Star and "Inside the NBA" host Charles Barkley. Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

Charles Barkley’s Parting ‘Inside the NBA’ Message

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Paolo Songco | Last updated Jun 1, 2025 6:25 AM ET

NBA on TNT's iconic run has come to an end. This is after the Indiana Pacers defeated the New York Knicks, 125-108, in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals on Saturday night.

The East finals were TNT's last NBA broadcast as their TV rights deal comes to an end at the conclusion of the 2024-25 season. This only means that Saturday night was TNT's final "Inside the NBA" show.

Hall of Famer Charles Barkley is a member of the long-running program's legendary quartet, and the 62-year-old could not help but get emotional in his final farewell message.

"Obviously, I got lucky and made one of the best decisions ever," Barkley started. "I was obviously going to go to NBC, and a friend of mine, Michael Jackson, says, 'Come to have dinner at Turner. It'll make me look good.'

"And these guys took me out to dinner, and after five hours, I had to call the great Dick Ebersol and say, 'Hey, man, I'm going to change my mind.'"

Barkley then went on to show his appreciation to everyone and anyone he has encountered during his two and a half decades with TNT.

"I just want to thank every single person who's been at Turner with me the last 25 years. 25 years," he said. "... So if you're with people that long, they are your family. And I just want to thank everybody at Turner for the last 25 years.

"It's been an honor, and I'm grateful and thankful."

Barkley will be taking his talents to ESPN as "Inside the NBA" transfers to the renowned sports network starting next season. The former NBA MVP also had a few things to say to ESPN ahead of his much-anticipated debut.

"And also to ESPN, it's going to be an honor and a privilege to work for you guys," he said. "You guys are the number one sports network in history. I'm excited for it. You guys got some tremendous talents over there. I'm looking forward to co-working with those guys."

Chuck bids farewell pic.twitter.com/oO0dojKSZD
— Paolo Songco (@PaoloSongcoNBA) June 1, 2025

Barkley ended his emotional monologue by expressing how grateful he is for the life he's lived, and how much TNT has impacted the same.

"But like I said, man, I just want to say thank you to the NBA, every coach I've had, every player I've played with for giving me this magnificent life that I've had," Barkley said. "I am so lucky and blessed. I'm lucky and blessed.

"And I want to thank TNT. And even though we'll never say TNT Sports again, I want to thank TNT for giving me a magnificent life."

As they always say, all good things must come to an end.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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