It looks like we’d be adding ‘former’ to another one of Charles Barkley’s professional titles. But there would be one constant even in the next act. The Auburn legend, NBA Hall of Famer and television analyst has reaffirmed his intention to retire from broadcasting following the upcoming 2026–27 NBA season. As media days kick off everywhere, Chuck revealed what retirement will look like.

Speaking to the media in Alabama on Monday, where he addressed Auburn basketball’s transition under head coach Steven Pearl, among other things, Barkley was asked about his previous statement that this would be his final season on Inside the NBA. While Chuckster intends to step away from the public eye once his Emmy-winning sportscasting journey concludes, he made sure to establish one non-negotiable exception to his retirement: his beloved alma mater.

“I feel great, man. I’m looking forward to this last year,” Barkley said when asked how it felt entering his final season on Inside the NBA. “TV has been great to me. I’m going to take a step back from public life. I’m going to always come to Auburn, though. I want to make that perfectly clear.”

Auburn has always been dear to him. Chuck even designated a part of his will to support his school. Every year, he returns to host fundraisers for the athletics program, and you’ll see his emotions run high when the Tigers are in the NCAA Tournament.

While Sir Charles and Auburn will remain inseparable, moments we’d get his unfiltered commentary will get rarer because he said, “People ask me, I said, ‘Yeah, I’m stepping back from public life after this year.’ It’s been a great run. Been a great journey. I thank everybody for the support all these years. But I’ll be 64 years old, and, you know, Ernie asked me to stay a couple more years, and last year was one, this year is two. But I feel really good. This is more like a… it’s going to be more like a celebration.”

Barkley’s comments double down on revelations made during an appearance on The Bill Simmons Podcast earlier this month, where he candidly discussed his retirement plans and his tight bond with long-time host Ernie Johnson. Once the season concluded, Chuck made it clear that his broadcasting future remains tied to Johnson’s timeline.

“Me and Ernie are a package deal,” Barkley revealed to Simmons. “So right now, unless Ernie changes his mind, next year is my last year 100 percent.”

Barkley said he had originally planned to step away from sports broadcasting at age 60, but agreed to extend his tenure amid structural network changes to ensure behind-the-scenes crew members would retain their livelihoods.

Following the groundbreaking licensing arrangement with TNT Sports, Inside the NBA just wrapped a landmark first season on ESPN while retaining not just the original Inside Guys Chuck, Ernie, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kenny “The Jet” Smith, but also the original production team in Atlanta.

Amid the sporadic schedules, both fans and Chuck heavily criticized ESPN for how it handled their show. He constantly dared the Disney-owned network to fire him, too.

When TNT Sports lost its primary NBA package and negotiated a deal to air the show on ESPN networks, Ernie asked Chuck to commit for two additional seasons to smooth the transition. With the 2025–26 season serving as year one, the upcoming 2026–27 campaign marks the final year of that mutual agreement.

While reports continue to speculate whether Ernie Johnson plans to retire as well, Chuck appears resolute that this is his final season behind the desk and is rightfully treating it as a victory lap, celebrating nearly three decades on air.

From guiding Auburn’s program culture to commanding national television audiences from studio desks, Barkley’s final season on Inside the NBA promises to mark the end of one of sports broadcasting’s most extraordinary careers.