Charles Barkley is flattered, but "Monday Night Football" is not for him.
There had been informal talks about the former NBA star joining Al Michaels, John Madden and new sideline reporter Michelle Tafoya on the telecast next season.
"I told them I didn't think that this was a direction I wanted to go in right now," Barkley told Sporting News Radio.
Barkley has two years left on his TNT contract as an NBA commentator. He said he listened to the "Monday Night Football" overtures because of Mike Pearl, the executive producer for ABC Sports who used to work at TNT.
"I have a great amount of respect for him," Barkley said. "I considered it and took my time, probably two to three weeks, and then just said, I'm going to pass."
BRUIN ENTERS DRAFT: Former UCLA forward Trevor Ariza has signed with an agent in preparation for entering the NBA draft.
Ariza, 18, left the Bruins after just one season. He made the Pac-10's all-freshman team and averaged 11.6 points and 6.5 rebounds.
The 6-foot-7 Ariza was released from his scholarship by UCLA. He is no longer eligible to transfer since he has an agent.
Ariza signed with Todd Ramasar of Life Sports Management in Los Angeles. Ramasar, a former UCLA player, also represents Baron Davis of the New Orleans Hornets.
BULLS HIRE ASSISTANT: Jim Boylan was hired Wednesday as an assistant to Chicago Bulls coach Scott Skiles. Boylan was most recently an assistant with the Atlanta Hawks and was part of Skiles' staff in Phoenix during the 2000-01 season. Boylan played on Marquette's 1977 NCAA championship team. He began his coaching career as a player-coach in Switzerland from 1982-86, leaving to become an assistant at Michigan State.