Chris Webber says he believes Charles Barkley will retire from Inside the NBA
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Basketball legend Chris Webber said he believes Charles Barkley will retire from Inside the NBA.
Webber calls Barkley's exit a Madden-sized hole in basketball broadcasting.
Background
Chris Webber, a 53-year-old basketball legend and former TNT employee, is a fill-in guest analyst on Inside the NBA, the Emmy-winning studio show. Charles Barkley, 63, has insisted this will be his final NBA season on ESPN's Inside the NBA, and has claimed longtime host Ernie Johnson will also retire. Barkley has alluded to retirement for several years, but this is described as the most sincere he has been about it. Webber spoke on the red carpet at the 41st Annual Great Sports Legends Dinner in New York City.
How it unfolded
- Oct 18, 1993Chris Webber signs a 15-year, $74.4M contract with the Warriors, with a clause allowing him to become a restricted free agent after his first season.
- Oct 5, 2026The U.S. Sun speaks with Webber on the red carpet at the 41st Annual Great Sports Legends Dinner in New York City.
- Oct 21, 2026Inside the NBA returns on ESPN.
Who’s saying what
- Support
- Webber says he believes Barkley will truly retire, calling him a close friend and mentor who has been saying so, and compares the loss to John Madden leaving NFL broadcasting.
- Caution
- Shaquille O'Neal denies Barkley's retirement, calling it a marketing gimmick.
Still unverified
Shaquille O'Neal denies Barkley's retirement claim, calling it a marketing gimmick; Barkley's claim that Ernie Johnson will also retire from the studio show is also unconfirmed.