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[Saba Sports News] Charles Barkley has never shied away from calling out NBA players and media figures alike, and with the playoffs underway, he’s once again voicing strong opinions—this time aimed squarely at ESPN.
During a guest spot on The Dan Patrick Show, the Hall of Famer took issue with how ESPN personalities discuss today’s stars, specifically citing Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. Barkley mocked the network’s commentary and drew a sharp contrast between media coverage now and during his own playing days.
“The clowns at ESPN always make me laugh,” Barkley said. “They’re out here saying, ‘Should Giannis want to leave?’ I don’t remember anybody back when I played saying, ‘We need to get Charles Barkley help in Philly or Phoenix,’ or that Karl Malone needed help in Utah, or Patrick Ewing in New York. Nobody was kissing our a** back then.”
He continued, “They loved the Lakers, Celtics, Michael Jordan, the Pistons—but nobody was running segments about how Barkley or Malone or Ewing needed help to win. Now it’s, ‘Giannis should leave Milwaukee because he can’t win a championship?’ Where were those media guys when we were playing?”
While Barkley used Giannis as a primary example, it’s worth noting that Antetokounmpo already has a championship to his name—unlike Barkley, Malone, or Ewing.
The remarks come at an interesting time, too, as Barkley is slated to join ESPN for the 2025–26 season alongside the rest of the Inside the NBA crew following TNT’s loss of NBA broadcasting rights.