Charles Barkley is going to be on ESPN next season, but that was never going to stop him from blasting the network. ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins claimed on NBA Today that the Los Angeles Lakers have saved the NBA, which led to Barkley blasting him and his employer on Inside the NBA.
“I saw a fool, idiot on TV talking about the Lakers saved the NBA,” Barkley said. “He’s an idiot and a fool, but you know who he is. What’s his name, Shaq (Shaquille O’Neal)?”
When Shaquille O’Neal failed to come up with a name, Barkley stated it was Perkins and then went on quite the rant.
“He said, the Lakers — first of all, the Lakers have had a great two weeks,” Barkley said. “He said the Lakers saved the NBA season. That’s because them fools on the other network, which we’re going to be working for next year, that’s all they talk about. Let me tell y’all something. And first of all, I want all the smoke. I don’t whistle when I walk by the graveyard or anything like that.
“The Lakers are doing great,” Barkley continued. “Got a long way to go. But the reason the season’s been going great — the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Oklahoma City Thunder — y’all just want to talk about the Warriors and the Lakers. They’re both doing great. Don’t get me wrong. If I turn out to be wrong, I got no problem with that.
“But y’all are idiots ’cause y’all talk about the Lakers and the Warriors all the time,” Barkley added. “The Cleveland Cavaliers have won 12 straight games. Oklahoma City got the MVP, and they are on fire. Y’all are talking about who’s in second place. That’s the reason I get pissed. Hey, the Lakers are doing great. I don’t mind being wrong. The Warriors are doing great.
“But that’s ’cause you fools on the other network, which we’re gonna become fools next year when we be working on that network, but Oklahoma City and the Cavs been balling for six months. Y’all talking about teams that had two great weeks,” Barkley concluded.
Charles Barkley full rant about Kendrick Perkins and Stephen A Smith
(h/t @awfulannouncing) pic.twitter.com/ue6qH22H1t
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) March 7, 2025
That was quite something, and this is not the first time that he has called out the network on this topic. Barkley previously slammed ESPN for talking about the Lakers and Dan Hurley during the NBA Finals.
Barkley does not like the network, but he will be on there next season. TNT has licensed Inside the NBA to ESPN from the 2025-26 campaign after losing the NBA’s media rights. There was talk about some ESPN personalities coming on the show, and things might get awkward if Perkins gets an invite.
While some might have decided against engaging in a war of words with Barkley, Perkins doesn’t fall into that category. He took to X to fire a shot back at the Hall of Famer.
“Hey, NBA on TNT, might wanna tell that senior citizen Charles Barkley that I’ll be around. When he see an idiot or fool in person make sure he keep that same energy. He can come playing with me if he want to and imma Address his a** like the numbers on a house. Straight from the 409 homeboy and we bar none and fade all.”
This is turning into quite a messy situation. Stephen A. Smith also reacted to Barkley’s criticism of ESPN on X by letting him know he has been talking about the Cleveland Cavaliers and asked him to put a name to his remarks.
“Yo Chuck, stop the b.s. with the “y’all.” Attach a name to it. I know I’ve been talking about Cavaliers being the No. 1 threat to the Celtics. Once you come over here, there’s gonna be some folks waiting to call YOU a fool. P.S. You know I love ya, though. See y’all soon. Yo Kenny Smith ….work on those free throws. Love y’all.”
Well, Barkley did name Perkins, but he did fire shots at the network at large. It sure will be quite interesting to see the dynamics between all these personalities next season.
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