Another day, another hot take from Sir Charles.
NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley was a guest Wednesday morning on ESPN’s “Get Up” to discuss league Commissioner Adam Silver’s comments on the mental health of players around the league in this age of social media. (RELATED: Adam Silver Rips Social Media, Says Lots Of NBA Players Are ‘Genuinely Unhappy’)
It took Barkley less than two seconds to call Silver’s statements “the stupidest thing [he’s] ever heard Adam say” and that NBA players have it easy and should stop complaining.
“[Adam’s] a great guy, but that’s the stupidest thing I might have heard any commissioner say,” Barkley told host Mike Greenberg. “These guys are making $20, $30, $40 million a year, they work six or seven months a year, [they] stay at the best hotels in the world. They ain’t got no problems. That’s total bogus.”
Much of the discussion about the media’s effect on players’ mental health stems from Celtics guard Kyrie Irving, who over the last week has said he doesn’t like the spotlight of being an NBA star, amid a rough stretch of games by Boston. (RELATED: Kyrie Irving Claims He Doesn’t Want To Be Famous, Just Wants To Play Basketball At ‘High Level’)
“He’s got to be one of the most miserable people I’ve ever seen,” Barkley said of Irving. “When you’re a star, and I’ve been a star, you get all the credit but you get all the blame. That ain’t right, that ain’t fair. That’s just how it is.”
Barkley is no stranger to controversy. Known for his lack of a filter, the former league MVP became a fan-favorite on TNT’s popular “Inside The NBA” since joining the crew in 2001. He’s bee in hot water several times over the years for his brash comments, with some of the most notable being his criticism of Kobe Bryant during the 2006 playoffs, who he described as “selfish”; the claim that he could beat NBA referee Dick Bavetta in a race; and saying the Golden State Warriors should be in Los Angles and not Oakland, California, because “it’s not a real city,” much to the chagrin of Oakland native and NBA Hall of Famer Gary Payton.
But whatever trouble Barkley may get himself into, he always finds a way to make amends through the help of “Inside The NBA.” He hashed out his criticism with Kobe live during the show and raised nearly $50,000 for charity by racing Bavetta during All-Star weekend, according to Slam. Also, TNT aired a hilarious video of Payton going around Oakland asking people what they thought of Barkley.
Whether you love him or hate him, Barkley always keeps it real with his opinions.
Do you side with Barkley or Silver? Leave a comment below and let us know what you think.