Charles Barkley is thought for being an individual who calls it as he sees it, and that’s particularly the case in terms of his commentary on the NBA. The previous participant and veteran sportscaster lately went on a serious tirade whereas discussing the Los Angeles Lakers. On the time, Barkley was responding to feedback made by the workforce’s coach, JJ Redick, and he proceeded to query the person’s job safety and extra. Reddick has since weighed in on Barkley’s newest sentiments and was pretty direct upon doing so.
Throughout a latest interview, JJ Redick mentioned the considerably shaky standing {of professional} basketball, opining that adverse takes from media pundits are dangerous to fan notion. Sir Charles didn’t take too kindly to these ideas and, throughout an episode of Contained in the NBA, he known as out Redick for arguing that he and his colleagues had been one motive why followers aren’t tuning in for video games as typically. The pundit additionally declared Redick to be a “useless man strolling” job-wise and stated that the Lakers “stink.”
The California-based basketball group hosted the Atlanta Hawks this previous Friday evening and finally clinched a 119-102 victory that introduced their file to 20-14. Earlier than the sport, their aforementioned coach spoke to the press, throughout which Charles Barkley’s feedback got here up. In line with ESPN, the previous Orlando Magic participant admitted to not being all that fazed by the feedback Barkley made:
I did not make it right through the clip, I bought to be trustworthy with you. My resting coronary heart fee might be 64 [beats per minute]. I watched the clip, it was 64. Actually do not care. I’ve different ideas, however do not care.
JJ Redick’s response appears to point that he’s not fascinated about partaking in a back-and-forth with the corridor of famer. As of proper now, he’s presently nonetheless contending along with his first 12 months as an NBA head coach. Redick was employed by the workforce in June 2024 shortly after the dismissal of his successor, Darvin Ham, after two seasons. What’s been famous by varied pundits since Redick’s hiring is the truth that he has no prior expertise as a coach. However, with their file, the squad now sits in fourth place within the Western Convention, as of this writing.
Throughout his broadcasting profession, Charles Barkley has actually engaged in wars of phrases with some notable names within the league. Golden State Warriors veteran Draymond Inexperienced had points with Barkley and addressed them whereas reacting to the pundit’s retirement feedback in 2024. Barkley’s ideas can actually generate combined emotions from gamers, coaches and followers alike. Nonetheless, one might additionally argue that it’s the previous league MVP’s tendency to not mince phrases that’s made him such a well-liked determine within the TV trade.
It’s fascinating that job safety would come up most lately, on condition that the Spherical Mound of Rebound himself was going through an unsure skilled future final 12 months. For some time, it appeared that Contained in the NBA can be canceled however, even amid that, the ex-Houston Rocket introduced his plans to retire from broadcasting on the finish of the 2024-2025 TV season. Months later, although, he walked again his retirement declaration, and it was confirmed months later that Inside would stay on the air on account of a deal struck between TNT and ESPN.
Apparently, Charles Barkley remains to be weighing job choices, but it surely appears seemingly that he’ll stay on air in some capability and proceed to voice his opinions for the foreseeable future. With that, it’s very attainable that this received’t be the ultimate time this 12 months or throughout a future season that he calls out the Lakers or one other workforce. Within the meantime, we’ll have to attend and see if Barkley responds to JJ Redick’s newest feedback.