Charles Barkley recently blamed the rise of NBA superteams and the creation of the second apron salary cap rule on players like LeBron James teaming up to chase titles.
But Richard Jefferson pushed back with a scathing dose of historical accuracy: Barkley was part of arguably one of the earliest superteams himself. Jefferson’s remarks come amid ongoing debates about player movement, competitive balance, and the legacy of modern era stars.
Jefferson exposes Barkley’s own superteam
During an appearance on the Road Trippin’ podcast, Jefferson didn’t hold back. Calling Barkley “my icon,” he still challenged the narrative:
Charles, let’s be honest… you literally joined a team with Hakeem Olajuwon…and then you brought in Scottie Pippen! That sounds like teaming up
He didn’t stop there. Jefferson highlighted other iconic superteams, like Shaq and Kobe recruiting Gary Payton and Karl Malone in L.A., underscoring that LeBron’s moves weren’t unprecedented. His message was clear: “Superteams didn’t begin in 2010, and the second apron isn’t punishment for just one player.”
The debate over superteams
Barkley argues that star players forming teams has altered the competitive balance-leading the NBA to introduce the second spend cap apron, effective in the 2023-24 season. But Jefferson insists the league’s response was a long time coming, not solely because of LeBron or Kevin Durant’s moves.
The apron now restricts roster flexibility and penalizes teams that overspend. Still, Jefferson’s historical context reminds fans that big name collaborations have always existed in some form.
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