Charles Barkley always has his mouth open, and something provocative and controversial is always spilling out of it.
The NBA Hall of Famer and co-host of TNT’s “Inside the NBA” flamed the Los Angeles Lakers for the way they have handled LeBron James’ son, Bronny, who has been sent down to the G-League — part time.
The Lakers’ decision to only have Bronny James play the South Bay Lakers’ home games — unlike others who have been designated to the NBA’s minor league who have to play there full time — has invited resounding criticisms from around the sport.
Barkley told “The Bettor Angle” show on the BetQL Network that the decision is “awful.”
Charles Barkley blasts the Lakers
“Awful,” said Barkley. “It was so funny, I was actually taping The Match with Ken Griffey Jr. way before the season started. He was telling me him and his dad were gonna go out to that first game.”
LeBron James once said that his favorite non-basketball athlete was fellow Ohio native Ken Griffey Jr. Most believe James was inspired to play with his son based on Griffey playing alongside his father, Ken Griffey Sr., with the Seattle Mariners in the early 1990s.
Barkley: ‘Bad look for’ LeBron James too
“I don’t think they are doing Bronny any favors,” Barkley continued. “They have just handled this thing very bad. It’s a bad look for the Lakers. I really like everything LeBron has done. But it’s a bad look for him (too) in my opinion.”
Barkley, 61, added that Bronny James needs playing time to develop, and that won’t happen rotting on the end of the Lakers bench.
“I thought it was great, a little ceremony his first game. But the kid is not ready to play in the NBA. He should be in the G-League so he can play basketball. He’s not gonna get better sitting on the bench,” Barkley said. “And also, this thing where he’s only gonna play home games. It’s stupid, it’s not fair to him. It’s not fair to the team. Can you imagine the coach of that team? You come off a road trip and you have a player you haven’t seen in a week or two. And then you probably feel like you gotta play him.”
