Charles Barkley has opinions and he stands by them. This time he and Kendrick Perkins are reigniting their ongoing feud, this time over ESPN’s coverage of the NBA. During TNT’s NBA Tip-Off pregame show on Thursday, March 6, Barkley took aim at Perkins and other ESPN analysts, calling them “idiots” for suggesting the Los Angeles Lakers were “saving the NBA.”
“I want all the smoke,” Barkley declared, adding, “The Lakers are doing great, they got a long way to go.”
Want all the smoke. Love it.
Barkley then criticized ESPN for focusing too heavily on the Lakers, while neglecting teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are excelling in their respective conferences.
“Y’all are idiots because y’all talk about the Lakers and the Warriors all the time. Y’all are talking about who is in second place,” Barkley continued. “That’s the reason I get pissed.” He also argued that the Lakers’ recent success was overhyped, stating, “The Lakers only had two great weeks.”
As expected, Perkins wasn’t going to let this slide. Because he likes to talk a good one, like Barkley. He quickly responded on X (formerly Twitter), sending a pointed message to Barkley: “Hey @NBAonTNT might wanna tell that senior citizen Charles Barkley that I’ll be around,” Perkins wrote. “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 ass like the numbers on a house. Straight from the 409 homeboy and we bar none and fade all. #TexasBoy.”
Oh but wait, Stephen A. Smith also weighed in, calling on Barkley to be more direct with his criticism. “Yo Chuck, stop the b.s. with the ‘y’all.’ Attach a name to it,” Smith tweeted. “I know I’ve been talking about @cavs 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 @TheJetOnTNT….workbook those free throws. Love y’all.”
Obviously, this isn’t the first time Barkley and Perkins have clashed. Back in April, Perkins criticized the Inside the NBA crew for not paying enough attention to basketball. In response, Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal humorously fired back, calling Perkins a “roach” and even hitting a punching bag with his face on it.