Last night, NBA on TNT analyst Charles Barkley delivered a scathing rant that didn’t sit well with FS1 Host Nick Wright. The discussion surrounded the amount of coverage the Los Angeles Lakers receive from “the other network,” ostensibly referring to ESPN. Barkley’s remarks began with him explaining that he saw a “fool idiot” on television talking about how the Lakers saved the NBA. He then revealed that he was referring to ESPN NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins.
The basketball Hall of Famer continued by highlighting how the Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder have been the real stories of the NBA season. He also expressed his distaste for the ongoing debate over who is the G.O.A.T. between Michael Jordan and LeBron James. In fact, he opined that the only people who engage in the discussion are television personalities who lack the talent to talk about other topics.
Barkley’s comments did not sit well with First Things First host Nick Wright, who took to social media to blast the former NBA great.
“Listen, everybody loves Chuck, but we’ve gotta be honest here,” tweeted Wright. “ALL YEAR he’s said the Lakers stink. Not that they’re not the best team in the league. That they’re bad/irrelevant. ALL YEAR he’s minimized anything they’ve done. Then, they trade for Luka and NO ONE was more adamant that it wouldn’t work and that the Mavs were better off this year.”
The Los Angeles Lakers have been on fire with Doncic on the roster, posting a 9-2 record, including an active eight-game winning streak.
“Now that they’re 2nd in the West and have been the best team in the league for the last six weeks, he says they’ve had a good ‘two weeks’ and we still shouldn’t talk about them,” Wright continued. “It’s disingenuous bulls**t from someone who doesn’t want to admit he’s been wrong about this team every step of the way, and it’s OK to say that, despite the fact he’s the funniest and most beloved person in sports TV history.”
The reaction to Barkley’s comments didn’t end with Wright’s post on X. Perkins quickly responded to Barkley’s remarks on social media.
“Hey @NBAonTNT, might wanna tell that senior citizen Charles Barkley that I’ll be around,” Perkins wrote on X. “When he sees an idiot or fool in person, make sure he keeps that same energy. He can come playing with me if he wants to, and I’mma address his ass like the numbers on a house. Straight from the 409, homebody, and we bar none and fade all. #TexasBoy.”
The award-winning studio show Inside the NBA will air on ESPN and ABC beginning next season under a sublicensing deal between Warner Bros. Discovery and The Walt Disney Company. The TNT Sports program will continue into its 36th season with its current cast of Ernie Johnson, Kenny “The Jet” Smith, Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O’Neal.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
