Charles Barkley sticking with Turner, ends LIV talks
NBA analysts Kenny Smith (L) and Charles Barkley laugh during a live telecast of “NBA on TNT” at CES 2017 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center on January 5, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. CES, the world’s largest annual consumer technology trade show, runs through January 8 and features 3,800 exhibitors showing off their latest products and services to more than 165,000 attendees. Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFP
Charles Barkley pulled the plug on talks to join the LIV Golf Series as a broadcaster and will stay with Turner and “Inside the NBA.”
“I want to thank Greg Norman and LIV for their interest in me,” Barkley said in a phone interview with the New York Post. “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.”
Barkley played in the LIV Pro-Am event Thursday at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster one week after dining with Norman in Atlanta.
His current contract with TNT includes three more years at a total of $30 million, Barkley has said.
Barkley, 59, said Thursday he felt he was in a “win-win” scenario but added many companies with whom he had endorsement agreements had already reached out regarding their position on the LIV chatter.
A power forward, Barkley was an 11-time All-Star over 16 NBA seasons from 1984-2000. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.
