Charles Barkley (Image Credit: Getty Images)
The NBA ratings are down. Charles Barkley knows it, and so does JJ Redick. However, Chucks does not seem to be on the same page as the Los Angeles Lakers head coach. The former Celtics went all in on Redick while blasting him in all ways possible.
Barkley’s comments were a reaction to Redick’s words when he called the NBA telecast a product. JJ did not sound as happy with the crew, who had been there for more than a decade. However, Barkley is not one to miss an opportunity, especially since he is one of the key members of the Inside the NBA crew.
“He said something about we’re the reason people ain’t watching this crappy product we got. Yeah, us. Like we out there jacking up a hundred threes a night. JJ … I don’t know Jason Monroe, I don’t know who that is, but JJ, you come for the king, you better not miss. ‘Cause I can get you brother. ‘Cause remember I got your Lakers’ games. You can’t hide them flaws they got. You just a dead man walking,” Chucks said during a recent game.
He openly chided Redick for suggesting their commentary was to blame for the league’s shortcomings. Charles argued against the idea that analysts shape viewer perceptions rather than provide insights into the game. Barkley, in his classic style, referred to Redick as a “dead man walking” in the context of his role with the Lakers.
Charles Barkley’s Harsh Reaction To JJ Redick’s Comment Stirred The Internet
While Redick directly blamed the commentators for the league’s declining viewership, Barkley said otherwise. What Charles Barkley meant was that no amount of cosmetic change could fix the team’s fundamental issues. This is well evident from a second perspective. As soon as the clip hit the internet, it went viral. Some fans seemed to favor Barkley, while others got the Lakers’ back.
“The NBA has been bad for a while now but suddenly everyone notices. It’s not all JJ Redick’s fault. Charles is also jealous that JJ is a handsome man while Charles is barely attractive enough for TV. And that panel all wishes they were coaches instead of hosts of what is essentially a variety show, a fan wrote.
“I lost respect for Barkley went he went political,” a user commented.
“I’m a lakers fan but damn,” another fan joked.
“media literacy at an all time low rn. this is no way a cooking, the lakers are 18-14 at the 6 seed and just made a trade thatll improve them. he made no points, just said lakers are bad and shoot a lot of threes while shaq laughed in the background. cmon ppl,” a curious fan noted.
“Classic Barkley move,” a user admired.
However, fighting over the dwindling viewership won’t help the league by any means. Be it Barkley or Redick, both of them had their own perspective of the current situation. But the NBA, in general, has to be competitive to get viewers’ attention.
