Charles Barkley is under contract with “Inside the NBA” until 2025, but if he pursues a gig with LIV Golf, it could very well force him to leave the show.

According to Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports, Barkley and LIV Golf's interest in each other could break up the popular cast of Inside the NBA. While it is possible for the NBA icon to wait until his contract expires before pursuing a deal with the newly established golf tour, the possibility remains that Barkley could ask to be released. His current contract makes him exclusive to TNT alone.

Such move is not new in the industry, with FOX Sports even releasing Joe Buck recently to allow him to join Troy Aikman at ESPN. While we're not saying that is going to happen, it is a precedent that shows Barkley's interest in LIV Golf could lead to his exit from the show sooner or later.

For what it's worth, Charles Barkley did hint that he's planning to leave TV as well and exploring a deal with LIV Golf. Speaking with “The Next Round” podcast, he shared that “you’ve got to always look at every opportunity that’s available.”

Barkley's presence in Inside the NBA is massive, and losing him will be a huge blow. Of course they can replace him with another NBA icon, but the fact of the matter is the segment is popular because of the chemistry between the casts. Also, Shaquille O'Neal's usual boasting of his ring just hits different if he's not telling it to Chuck.