Barkley to return from leave on Thursday night
Posted: 02.17.2009 at 11:32 AM
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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Charles Barkley is returning from his leave of absence and will be back on the air Thursday night during TNT's NBA coverage.

Barkley was arrested Dec. 31 in Scottsdale, Ariz., and his leave began Jan. 9. Police said the 45-year-old ex-Auburn standout and NBA Hall of Famer had a blood-alcohol level nearly twice the legal limit in Arizona.

Barkley, a TNT studio analyst, was forced to miss the network's coverage of All-Star weekend in Phoenix.

The Leeds, Ala., native will be back to offer his opinions of Thursday's trade deadline, as well as TNT's doubleheader coverage of San Antonio-Detroit and Boston-Utah.

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