Charles Barkley has announced that the upcoming NBA season will be his last on TNT's "Inside the NBA," and he indicated that longtime host Ernie Johnson will also be leaving the show after this season.

Speaking on a Thursday episode of "The Bill Simmons Podcast," Barkley said, "Me and Ernie are a package deal. So right now, unless Ernie changes his mind, next year is my last year 100 percent."

Barkley, 63, said the retirement timeline was part of an agreement Johnson, 70, made after ESPN acquired the rights to "Inside the NBA." The show moved under the Disney umbrella as part of Warner Bros. Discovery's settlement with the NBA, following TNT Sports losing its NBA broadcast rights.

Barkley has been outspoken about the show's future after TNT lost those rights and the program was licensed to ESPN. He had previously announced retirement plans amid the uncertainty, but later said he would return for one more season.

"The only reason I stayed is so that everybody could keep their jobs behind the scenes," Barkley said on the podcast. "I'm hoping the show keeps going on ESPN, but if Ernie retires after next season, I'm done. I have so much love and respect for that guy. If he says [he's] done, I'm done."

Barkley has a history of retirement talk. He said in 2021 that he planned to retire at 60, recalling TNT's reaction: "They were like, 'Oh, he's full of sh-t. He's not gonna retire.'" He said he later told them, "I told y'all six years ago I was gonna retire at 60," and they asked him to "stay two more years, 'til we get the new deal." Barkley said he agreed to stay until 62, which was last year, adding, "Little did I know these f--king idiots was gonna lose the NBA."

Johnson has hosted "Inside the NBA" since 1990, when TNT acquired broadcasting rights. Barkley joined the show a decade later after retiring from the league. The program has become one of the most popular studio shows on cable, known for its chemistry and banter among analysts Shaquille O'Neal and Kenny Smith, neither of whom has indicated plans to retire.

Potential replacements for Barkley have been mentioned, including former players Jeff Teague, Kevin Garnett, and Richard Jefferson, though no official decisions have been announced.

Barkley's announcement signals the end of an era for a show that has been a staple of NBA coverage for over three decades. With Johnson also expected to leave, fans will be watching to see who steps into those iconic roles on ESPN.