Photo Credit: Bob Donnan, USA TODAY Sports

Shaquille O’Neal Didn’t Try To Talk Charles Barkley Out Of Joining LIV Golf: “I Would Have Supported Him Every Which Way”

We were aware that retirement is around the corner for Charles Barkley, who had previously stated that he doesn’t think he’ll re-sign with TNT once his contract expires in two years.

But in this offseason, there were some major doubts of Barkley even returning to NBA on TNT broadcasts this year, after he received an offer from LIV Golf.

LIV is a professional golf tour financed by the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia attracted players with record prize money. Apparently there’s also a lot of money in play for broadcasters.

Then, Charles Barkley thankfully revealed that he has ended discussions with LIV and he will stay at TNT for the rest of his TV career. 

His friend and colleague Shaquille O’Neal now said during an interview that he wasn’t going to try and stop Barkley from leaving had he planned to, and would have supported him regardless.

Per USA Today:

Q: Your longtime “Inside the NBA” colleague Charles Barkley seriously mulled a lucrative, exclusive announcing contract with the controversial Saudi-backed LIV Golf series. Did you try to talk him out of it?

Shaq: No. Charles is a dear friend. I would’ve supported him every which way. Charles is one of those legends, like Bill Russell, that didn’t make a lot of money playing. So if a chance comes up like this at this age that’s legal – controversial but legal – you gotta look at it. If he had accepted it, I wouldn’t be mad. And if Charles had left? You’d still have me.