Image Source: USA Today Sports
[Saba Sports News] NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley is advocating for an NBA team to sign free agent Tony Snell, who has recently been in the news for his autism diagnosis at the age of 31, a condition shared by his two young sons.
Snell, a University of New Mexico graduate, is on the cusp of a significant career milestone, needing just one more season to complete a decade in the NBA. This achievement would qualify him for a crucial benefit under the NBA Players Association’s retiree benefits program: premium healthcare coverage for his sons, Karter and Kenzo.
The deadline for Snell to secure a contract for the remainder of the season, making him eligible for this family medical benefit, is fast approaching. Barkley’s plea for Snell’s signing came during a recent “Inside the NBA” segment, emphasizing the NBA community’s familial spirit and the importance of securing excellent medical care for Snell’s children.
“I hope one of you [NBA teams] sign Tony so his two autistic kids can get great medical care. … We always talk about what a family we are. Let’s sign that kid for the rest of the season,” said Barkley.
This push follows a detailed account of Snell’s situation by Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports. Despite spending the last two seasons in the G League aiming for an NBA return, Snell, who split his 2021-22 season between the Portland Trail Blazers and New Orleans Pelicans, has demonstrated his value on the court with career averages of 6.1 points and 2.3 rebounds, and a near 40% success rate from the three-point line over nine seasons.