Charles Barkley: “My unique plan was to retire at 60. I instructed TNT, ‘I’m retiring at 60,’ they usually mentioned, ‘Okay.’ And I mentioned, ‘Hey, simply to warn you, I’m retiring subsequent yr.’ They mentioned, ‘It’s important to keep till the brand new deal is completed.’ I mentioned, ‘Rattling it,’ as a result of they wanted me to barter. I had no thought they had been going to blow it. I mentioned, ‘You realize what, you guys have been nice to me. I’m going to remain for 2 extra years.’ So subsequent yr was going to be my final yr and I used to be going to stroll off into the sundown. However I had no thought, like I simply mentioned, as a result of it might have been excellent to move the torch to Vince Carter or Jamal Crawford. Hey, 25 years, thanks all, I’m going to be 62. After which the advertising and marketing race got here alongside and I mentioned, ‘Oh, that is really even higher for me. I can stroll away subsequent yr and never have to fret about one other community.” -via YouTube / September 8, 2024