Charles Barkley says he declined three NBA general manager opportunities
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 4, 2026, 11:30 PM
Last updated Sep 4, 2026
Charles Barkley stated on The Bill Simmons Podcast that he turned down three separate offers to serve as an NBA general manager. The veteran broadcaster explained that he required total authority over draft picks and roster transactions, but no organization was willing to grant him complete autonomy. Barkley cited the experience of Michael Jordan with the Washington Wizards as a cautionary tale of being blamed for organizational shortcomings without having full control. He noted that teams pushed back on his demands due to his lack of front-office experience. Although he previously urged Jordan to hire experienced staff, Barkley remains committed to his role at Inside the NBA at age 63. He expressed no intention to pursue executive positions at this stage of his career.
- •Barkley received three distinct offers to work as an NBA general manager.
- •He declined all three opportunities because teams refused to grant him total decision-making control.
- •Barkley pointed to the executive tenure of Michael Jordan with the Washington Wizards as a reason for his caution.
- •Teams argued that Barkley lacked the necessary experience to manage an organization.
- •At 63, Barkley continues his long-standing broadcasting career with Inside the NBA.
- 11:30 PMYahoo Sports — Charles Barkley says he had 3 opportunities to run NBA teams
"Charles Barkley has already carved out a nice second career in the NBA for himself as a broadcaster, but he could have been running a team. Barkley joined The Bill Simmons Podcast this week, where he teased retirement from Inside the NBA for about the fifth time in the last 10 years. But Barkley says…
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