In a recent appearance on CNBC's Closing Bell, basketball legend and sports analyst Charles Barkley reiterated his retirement plans, expressing his reluctance to work for another network. Barkley's retirement announcement, made after Game 4 of the NBA Finals last month, came at a time when the future of Inside the NBA was uncertain due to Warner Bros. Discovery potentially losing NBA game rights and ending TNT's longstanding partnership with the league.

According to reports from The Athletic, the NBA has now finalized media rights agreements with Disney, NBC Universal, and Amazon Prime Video. However, Warner Bros. Discovery has the opportunity to exercise its matching rights within five days of approval by the NBA Board of Governors, potentially leading to a legal dispute.

While discussing his retirement announcement on CNBC, Barkley expressed concern about transitioning to another network after his 25-year tenure with Turner. He stated, "I wouldn't feel comfortable going to work for another network. It will be 25 years that I've been working with Turner, and I love everybody at Turner. But at this age, to go over and start over, I don't know that I want to do that."

When asked if there was a certain monetary offer that could sway his decision, Barkley indicated that he had already accumulated enough wealth throughout his career and television stint, saying, "If I don't have enough money by now, I'm the biggest loser in the world."

This stance from Barkley marks a stark contrast from two years ago when he made headlines for jokingly saying he would "kill a relative" for $200 million amidst speculation of a departure from NBA on TNT for LIV Golf. However, he ultimately signed a lucrative 10-year deal worth over $100 million, which may now be cut short if TNT loses NBA rights and Barkley retires after next season.

Throughout recent months, Barkley has expressed frustration towards Warner Bros. Discovery executives, particularly CEO David Zaslav, for their handling of negotiations with the NBA. Nonetheless, entities like NBC, as a broadcast network, and Amazon, as a streaming powerhouse, offer advantages that TNT and Warner Bros. Discovery cannot compete with.

Barkley also criticized the NBA's focus on streaming in its upcoming media rights deal, believing that prioritizing financial gain over accessibility for fans is a disservice. He stated, "When you start just going to the highest bidder and you're not on regular television, I think you do a disservice to the fan...the fan is always the most important thing."

For now, Barkley, along with fellow Inside the NBA analysts Shaquille O'Neal, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson, will continue to entertain fans for at least one more season. However, what lies beyond that remains uncertain. Despite Barkley's steadfast retirement plans, fans and fellow analysts alike will remain skeptical until he officially walks away from the microphone.

As the NBA's media rights landscape undergoes significant changes, Charles Barkley's mark on the world of sports media will undoubtedly be remembered, regardless of what path he chooses next.