ESPN announce new Charles Barkley job despite NBA icon insisting he wouldn’t ‘work too much’ for them

Two legendary figures in their own fields will team up to announce a college basketball game together next week.

ESPN released a statement on Monday confirming that Dick Vitale and Charles Barkley will call No.25 Indiana’s game against No. 19 Kentucky on Saturday, Dec. 13.

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Charles Barkley and Dick Vitale to call college basketball games together

Barkley and Vitale are members of the Naismith Memorial Basketball and Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame.

This is the first time the two iconic voices have called a game together.

“Dick and Charles are two of the most entertaining and iconic voices in basketball, so having them together on the same broadcast is a true gift for fans,” Burke Magnus, ESPN’s President of Content, said in a statement.

“We are thrilled to have it come to fruition, especially for a marquee college basketball rivalry game like Indiana-Kentucky in primetime on ESPN.”

Vitale has called more than 1000 games since he joined ESPN back in 1979 and is one of America’s most recognizable voices

The former basketball head coach is also known for catchphrases during games, such as “This is awesome baby.”

“Dick has meant so much to the game of basketball, and we have long felt he deserved an opportunity to call an NCAA Men’s Tournament game, and we are delighted he has finally agreed following several offers,” said Harold Bryant, an Executive Vice President at CBS said in a statement/

“Having him call the game with Charles will be must-see TV and a great way to tip off the First Four.”

While Barkley is still a TNT employee, he can work on ESPN programs due to the relationship the two broadcasters have.

TNT is currently licensing Inside the NBA to ESPN in return for Big 12 football and basketball games.

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Barkley previously joked he wouldn’t be overworked by ESPN

Barkley’s decision to work an additional game on ESPN comes after he joked that the broadcaster would make him “work too much” after it was confirmed Inside the NBA would be moving channels.

“Listen, you know, if they start trying to work me too much between ESPN and TNT, I’m just going to walk on home,” Barkley said back in June.

Barkley has long-wanted to work a game with Vitale, with the pair both saying so in a 2013 Sports Illustrated interview.

“I told these guys one of my goals is to do a game with Dick Vitale,” Barkley said. “I would love to do a game with Dick Vitale because I think he has been great for college basketball. It’d be good for the game.”

While Vitale said, “Both of us have a love for the game, and it would be a lot of fun,” Vitale said. “You never know what will come out of his mouth, and I like to think my energy and enthusiasm would jump out with Charles.”

It may have taken 12 years, but it’s finally happening.

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