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Charles Barkley has just lately and steadily spoken of his want to retire from broadcasting at 60 years previous. However these plans could also be on maintain after he reportedly reached a large contract extension with Warner Bros. Discovery Sports activities.
On Monday, WBD Sports activities introduced they reached long-term contracts with every member of Contained in the NBA, the favored NBA on TNT studio present that includes Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Shaquille O’Neal and Barkley. Forward of that announcement, Andrew Marchand of the New York Submit reported Barkley’s deal is a 10-year contract that might method $200 million.
Whereas NBA followers will rejoice on the concept Barkley persevering with his basketball commentary for an additional decade, there are a few hurdles that might forestall the Corridor-of-Famer from fulfilling his newly signed contract.
Final season, the 59-year-old Barkley repeated his beforehand claimed want to retire on the age of 60 and mentioned he deliberate to cease broadcasting on the conclusion of his present take care of the then-Turner Sports activities. Barkley’s present contract is ready to run out after the 2024-25 season, which coincides with the timing of Turner’s current NBA rights settlement.
Regardless of agreeing to a brand new 10-year contract with WBD Sports activities, Barkley may presumably nonetheless resolve to retire in 2025, though it’s arduous to think about him forfeiting upwards of $200 million to spend extra time on the golf course. Barkley’s self-touted impulse to retire already appeared to waiver earlier this yr when he put his relationship with Turner on the road to flirt with LIV Golf. After failing to achieve an settlement with the extremely controversial Saudi-funded golf league over the summer season, Barkley reaffirmed his loyalty to Turner.
The opposite potential hurdle that might stunt Barkley’s 10-year contract is WBD’s present NBA rights settlement expiring in 2025. In the event that they don’t re-up with the NBA, Marchand’s report signifies Barkley’s deal may permit him to hitch different platforms that decide up the league’s sport rights. That state of affairs seems unlikely, nonetheless, with Barkley’s 10-year contract being an excellent indicator that WBD anticipates persevering with its long-running partnership with the NBA.
It’s totally potential that Barkley has been touting his retirement plans as a negotiation ploy. WBD is aware of how worthwhile he’s to their NBA protection. And though Barkley’s contract reportedly compensates him properly with $10 million yearly, current NFL offers have altered the panorama of what sportscasters are paid. After Tony Romo, Troy Aikman and Tom Brady raised the business customary for sportscaster compensation, Barkley is ready as much as reap a few of these advantages.
[New York Post]
