Charles Barkley has never shied away from speaking his mind, but his latest comments about LeBron James and the NBA’s new second apron rule quickly drew fire.
Speaking on Bill Simmons’ podcast, Barkley pointed the finger at LeBron for the league’s newest spending restrictions.
“Why did Adam Silver have to put the second apron in? Because LeBron got all his guys together. Kevin Durant wanted to go play with the Warriors.
“Y’all don’t want to win a championship and just compete against each other?” Barkley said. “Don’t get mad at Adam Silver because all y’all want to play together and dominate the league because y’all don’t want to compete.”
Those remarks struck a nerve with Jefferson, who did not hesitate to push back during his Road Trippin’ podcast.
“F**k him,” Jefferson snapped when co-host Allie Clifton mentioned Barkley’s name.
He then reminded listeners that Barkley himself joined forces with Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler in Houston in the mid-1990s, later welcoming Scottie Pippen to the mix.
“I remember Charles Barkley going to Houston, and then he teamed up with Hakeem Olajuwon.
“Then Scottie Pippen was also there. Clyde Drexler had just retired and then Scottie Pippen, who was only in year 11. So it wasn’t older than him,” Jefferson said. “Olajuwon and Charles Barkley were at year 14. Pippen was in year 11. So he was in his prime. That sounds like teaming up. That sounds like teaming up if I’m wrong.”
Jefferson highlights the irony in Barkley’s criticism
Jefferson made it clear that he still respects Barkley, calling him an “icon and big brother,” but insisted the Hall of Famer was ignoring his own history.
Barkley famously left the Phoenix Suns in 1996 to chase a ring with Olajuwon and Drexler in Houston, only to fall short in the playoffs. Pippen joined in 1999, further proving that even in the 1990s, stars were willing to cluster together in pursuit of championships.
“Charles, let’s be honest. You literally joined a team with Hakeem Olajuwon because he had won two championships,” Jefferson said.
“That sounds like maybe LeBron is going and joining D-Wade. And then you brought in Scottie Pippen. Man, that sounds like Chris Bosh joining.”
Jefferson also pointed out that Barkley did not need to look far for another example.
His Inside the NBA colleague Shaquille O’Neal did something similar with the Lakers in 2003, when he and Kobe Bryant recruited Gary Payton and Karl Malone to stack the roster in pursuit of another championship.
“Why do we always make it seem like LeBron is the first person to ever join up in NBA history? The Celtics before Bron made his move,” Jefferson added. “KG, Paul, and Ray joined up. Joined up, right? So when you look at this over history, come on. The second apron doesn’t… We’re blaming everything on LeBron. Right, wrong, ugly.”
Read the full article here
