Charles Barkley, who used to excel in his playing days, won several personal accolades, with only the NBA championship ring eluding him. Upon his retirement, Charles has been making waves in his new role as an analyst, alongside his fellow retired veteran and four-time NBA championship winner, Shaquille O’Neal.
However, Charles Barkley rarely disappoints when he has a microphone. He often spices up his commentary work with jokes, just as he recently did while dissecting the NBA in-season semifinal game between the LA Lakers and New Orleans Pelicans, amidst heavy criticism directed at Zion Williamson.
Charles Barkley teases beating Stephen A. Smith
The In-Season Tournament has provided fans with numerous fantastic early-season basketball moments. However, it unexpectedly delivered one of the most amusing media crossovers for fans, as ESPN and TNT talents joined forces for the semi-final games.
Charles Barkley and Stephen A. Smith have shared delightful moments on air throughout the night, with one standout moment being when Barkley jokingly threatened to confront Smith if he raised his voice on air. “If you come over here with all that loud ass talking. This ain’t First Take. This gone be the first ass whooping you take.” Charles Barkley jokingly said.
Barkley stands out as one of the most entertaining personalities on television, a trait that equally applies to Stephen A. With both of them on the same show, it has resulted in magical TV moments, showcasing that a collaborative broadcast might be something of significant interest in the future.
However, the chemistry between these two media giants has added extra fun for viewers’ enjoyment, making the tournament not only about the on-court action but also the entertaining banter between these renowned broadcasters. It’s moments like these that remind us why sports broadcasting can be just as captivating off the court as it is on the court.
Zion Williamson faces on-air critique from Shaq and Barkley
The Los Angeles Lakers dominated the New Orleans Pelicans in their In-Season Tournament semifinal clash on Thursday, securing a convincing 133-89 victory. LeBron James delivered a stellar performance, propelling the Lakers into a showdown with the Indiana Pacers for the NBA Cup on Saturday night.
Zion Williamson, a key player for the Pelicans, faced a challenging night, contributing 13 points on 6-for-8 shooting, along with three rebounds and two assists in 26 minutes of play. This performance drew criticism from basketball legends Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley during the post-game analysis.
In the discussion, Shaq reflected on his early years, highlighting the importance of hard work for success in the league. He expressed concern over Williamson’s effort, emphasizing the need for the young player to create scoring opportunities, demand the ball, and exhibit a determined attitude.
Shaq, noting his own experiences, stressed the significance of developing a certain intensity to elevate performance. Shaquille said, “Does not run hard — it’s not a diss, this is gonna be a lesson from one great big man to another guy that can be great,” he added as the show went on saying
“He doesn’t demand the ball … and he doesn’t have that look. Like, I’m not the greatest athlete ever, but I know a look when I see it. In every sport, I know a look. Tiger Woods had that look, Jack Nicklas had that look. He just doesn’t have that look. And he doesn’t rebound. He does not rebound.”
Charles Barkley joined the conversation, echoing his longstanding belief that Williamson must improve his physical condition, pointing to Zion’s weight. However, Charles confirmed there are two better players in Pelicans Zion saying, “He’s got two guys on his team that are better players than him and they shouldn’t be.”
He also called out Zion to play better than other guys as a first-round pick by saying, “He was the No. 1 pick in the Draft. He should be a better player than [Brandon] Ingram, we like Ingram. Obviously, we love C.J. [McCollum]. He should be the best player and he’s not close.”
Barkley pointed out Williamson’s lack of rebounds and suggested a shift in his role, emphasizing the importance of becoming a finisher rather than an initiator in the Pelicans’ offensive strategy. The critique from these basketball icons highlighted areas for improvement in Williamson’s game and sparked discussions about his potential as a franchise player for New Orleans.
