Charles Barkley did something unusual today and joined the NBA TV guys at the NBA Finals. Herein, Chuckster was sitting right next to someone he loves triggering: Kyrie Irving. The Mavs point guard is coming off a redemptive 21-point night and helping the Mavericks save their series with a 122-84 win. He was in a good mood. Partially perhaps because his fellow Duke alum on the other side of the court, Jayson Tatum, who tormented him for the first three games, was held at 15 points. But even if they are rivals, he won’t get baited by Chuck.

To his credit, the TNT analyst tried with a question about Duke. “You’re one of the great Duke players,” Chuck started and after listing the likes of Christian Laettner, Mike Gminski, Gene Banks, and Zion Williamson, he asked Irving, “What do you think you feel in the hierarchy of the great Duke players?” 

He had to be reminded he forgot to include Celtics’ player Tatum. Because of that Irving couldn’t contain his blushes and even humble brag for funsies. Some of the analysts tried to claim he was top 4 at least but he couldn’t accept it. He kept refusing to answer Chuck with complaints of, “Why you doing this now?”

Chuck also skipped Grant Hill, a Duke alum, and former NBA pro, sitting right there at the table doing his sportscasting duties. Because he left other Duke greats out of the discussion, Irving told Chuck to “Stop it.” But did he? Not even the slightest.

Charles Barkley fails to troll Duke legend

Hill knew what Chuckster was trying. He’s dealing with a 24-year sportscasting veteran who has done this many times before. When Irving refused to give into some unhealthy Blue Devil rivalry in the middle of the series, Hill remarked, “The media tries to divide and conquer.” Because Hill called him out like that, Barkley tried to trigger the Blue Devils some more by asking Irving if Hill was in the top 10 among Duke’s greatest. That, Kyrie could confidently answer with an affirmative.

And it’s not just him. Jayson Tatum also sat with the same panel to talk about the Blue Devil ‘Mount Rushmore.’ Chuck had the same question for Jayson and again intentionally left Hill out of the list. Tatum didn’t fall for Barkley’s divisive ways either. After declaring Laettner is undoubtedly the no.1, he said, “It’s definitely my man G. Hill over here.” He then proceeded to play it humble like Kyrie with, “I’m just trying to catch up.”

Looks like they’ve all taken the Blue Devil Brotherhood 101 class at Duke for their matching answers. Either way, Auburn legend, Charles Barkley failed at this one.