NBA coverage will remain consistent for a bit longer as TNT confirms the all-star group of Shaquille O’Neal, Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley received contract extensions.

However, this news comes off the heels of Barkley alluding to a possible retirement.

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Several months ago, Barkley confirmed that he wanted to retire from the sports program at the end of his last contract. However, the New York Post reveals that the NBA legend recently agreed to a 10-year contract extension.

Before the extension, Barkley had three years remaining on his contract, set to expire at the end of the 2024-2025 NBA season. The original contract pays him $10 million per season on “Inside The NBA.”

While there are no confirmed details about Barkley’s new contract, sources allege that it will be more than $100 million, possibly approaching $200 million.

“We’re all a big family. Ernie, Kenny, and Shaquille are brothers to me, and I wouldn’t still be here if it wasn’t for them and all the amazing people who work on our show,” Barkley said in a quote shared by Warner Bros. “I’m not gonna lie, though, this is a life-altering deal … and I’m blessed to be able to do live television for a living.”

His February 2022 comments led people to believe the end of his original contract would be the time for retirement. As confirmed in a call with the Dallas Morning News, the former Phoenix Suns superstar was adamant about living out his latter years a little differently.

“I love Ernie, Kenny, Shaq, and everybody we work with. But I just don’t feel the need to work until the day I die. I don’t, man. I’ll be 61 years old if I finish out my contract,” Barkley said to the local news outlet.

AfroTech previously reported that Barkley was considering an offer from LIV Golf. However, those talks were said to have ceased.