Charles Barkley is this week’s guest on Shannon Sharpe’s hit podcast “Club Shay Shay” and like other guests before him, Barkley didn’t shy away from talking about just about everything, including Michael Jordan’s son’s past relationship with Scottie Pippen’s ex-wife, Larsa Pippen.
Marcus Jordan, 33, and Larsa Pippen, 49, were together for just over a year before reportedly calling it quits in March. Their relationship sparked a lot of intestest because Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen were longtime teammates who won six NBA titles together with the legendary Chicago Bulls teams of the 1990s. They’re one of the most successful combos in league history but their relationship has gone cold over the years.
Barkley didn’t hold back when asked by Sharpe about Marcus Jordan and Larsa Pippen dating each other:
“I feel bad for Michael; I feel bad for Scottie. That is so messy. … There are no winners; There are only losers. Michael and Scottie’s relationship will never be the same.” – Charles Barkley
As Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James mulls an uncertain future, there's one respected NBA voice who hopes he decides to call it quits soon.
TNT analyst, Inside the NBA personality and Hall of Famer Charles Barkley, during an appearance on former NFL star and ESPN analyst Shannon Sharpe's podcast Club Shay Shay this past Wednesday,explained why he hopes James, who left his future up in the air following the Lakers' elimination from the playoffs this past week, announces his retirement sooner rather than later.
"I hope he retires soon because I hated the way I retired," Barkley said.
“I hope he retires soon because I hated the way I retired… Your ego says you can still do it… I don’t want to see any great players play when they’re past their prime.”
Charles Barkley on why he thinks LeBron James should retire 🗣️
Barkley, to the amusement of Sharpe, then recalled his own realization of when it was time to stop playing professional basketball.
"I remember telling myself my last two years, 'Ok, I'm going to get myself in great shape, I'm going to have a good year, then I'm going to retire.'" "Then I figured out, like, playing against air... Everybody is good against air. Everybody is great against air," Barkley said, going on to explain that he just couldn't compete against younger players anymore.
Barkley finally explained that he hopes James "retires while he can still play."
James, who will turn 40 in December, declined to answer when asked about his plans for the 2024-25 season following the Lakers' loss to the Denver Nuggets last week. The four-time NBA champion surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the NBA's all-time scoring list during the 2022-23 season, then proceeded to average 25.7 points, 8.3 assists and 7.3 rebounds per game while shooting 54 percent from the field in 71 games played this season.
In short, James is still playing at a very high level. But Barkley's comments are undoubtedly food for thought for the Akron, Ohio native.
TNT basketball broadcaster Charles Barkley joined Sports Illustrated's Jimmy Traina on the SI Media podcast this week to discuss a host of topics, including an incredible story between the exchange of a watch between Barkley and future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady.
"[Brady] and Wayne Gretzky are the two nicest GOATs [Greatest of All-Time] I've ever been around," Barkley began. "As a matter of fact, see this watch here? I've been offered $250,000 for this watch," Barkley told Traina.
"So I'm broadcasting one of the [TNT golf matches for charity], probably four or five years ago, I make a nice comment about this watch and this watch is a pretty penny. I'm talking double-digit thousands. I said, 'That's a nice watch.' He says, 'Thanks, Chuck,' blah blah blah. We do the broadcast another two or three hours. One of Tom's boys comes up to me and he says, 'Hey Tom is looking for you.' ...I go up [to the clubhouse] and I say, 'Tom, what's up?' And he says, 'Chuck, take my watch.' I go, 'What?' I said, 'Tom, I'm just saying you have a nice watch.' [He says], 'I appreciate the compliment,' and he just gives me this watch. A couple of collectors have offered me $250,000 for it. I wouldn't sell it for any amount. That's what a guy Tom is. Him and Wayne Gretzky for being the GOATs of their sports are two of the nicest, most humble guys I ever met."
Barkley said it was never his intention for Brady to give him his watch.
"I didn't want him to think I gave him a compliment on the watch because I wanted the watch," Barkley added. "It was a nice watch. I said, 'Tom, you don't have to do that.' But when he said it a second time, I said thank you."
It's clear there is a healthy amount of mutual respect between two all-time greats in their respective sports, but it's pretty wild that Brady handed over a watch that is being appraised for a quarter of a million dollars.
The Bucks had their season come to an end with a 120-98 loss to the Pacers in Game 6 of their first round series in Indianapolis on Thursday night.
An ugly moment from the end of the game is likely going to lead to a big punishment, as Bucks guard Patrick Beverley was seen throwing a ball at Pacers fans not once, but twice, while standing near Milwaukee's bench in the final minutes.
Charles Barkley rightfully blasted Beverley for his actions, saying the NBA is likely going to suspend him and that it should be a lengthy one.
Here's Barkley's full take on the situaion:
Charles Barkley with harsh words for Patrick Beverley.
"Listen, I've done stupid stuff and I got criticized. That's just wrong. He's gonna get suspended for that. And that's gonna be a good one, too. 'Cause he didn't do it once. He did it twice." pic.twitter.com/CgrR8bRIAz
