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#pounditFriday, March 29, 2024

Charles Barkley responds to critics of his Isaiah Thomas comments

Charles Barkley

Charles Barkley used the first part of “Inside the NBA” on TNT Tuesday to address a matter for which he believes he was unfairly criticized.

TNT on Sunday focused on the difficult matter of Isaiah Thomas playing in the playoffs a day after his younger sister died in a car accident. They showed footage of him crying before the game, which conveyed his emotional experience prior to what would be a big game for his Boston Celtics.

Barkley analyzed the footage and said he was not comfortable watching Thomas cry so close to playing in a playoff game and expressed his belief that the video was an indication that Thomas was not ready to play in the game. It was an opinion that seemed to be proven incorrect as Thomas scored 33 points in the loss, but it was Barkley’s opinion nonetheless.

Opening up Tuesday’s show, Barkley talked about those who criticized him for his comments about Thomas.

“I want to address something that really bothered me,” said Barkley. “I heard that all these nitwit fools idiots were complaining about what I said about Isaiah Thomas the other night making me uncomfortable.

“What I was saying is I’m uncomfortable talking about his pain and then going to basketball. For all you nitwit scumbags idiots punks to try to make that a story because you all don’t have ratings and use my name to draw ratings, don’t do that. If you don’t have any talent, just accept that you don’t have any talent. Let me be me.

“I talked to Isaiah. He didn’t take any offense to that. I was talking about that I wish him and his family nothing but the best.”

Barkley’s actual words on Sunday may not have conveyed his intended point. Using phrases such as “not a good look” makes it seem like you’re criticizing Thomas for crying. Perhaps in this case Chuck simply didn’t express his feelings accurately on Sunday, which led to the backlash. He was much more clear on Tuesday when expressing his message.

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