NBA veteran Charles Barkley has never shied away from making his bold and honest opinions regarding pressing, controversial issues known to the public. Be it an issue about politics or basketball, Barkley has always been outspoken about his beliefs. Following a couple of heartbreaking tragedies across America, the Phoenix Suns legend addressed the incidents in his latest podcast episode, asserting stern warnings to the alleged perpetrators of the crimes. Barkley also gave a possible solution that could help prevent the repetition of such a gruesome occurrences that claimed the life of innocent victims.
Roughly a month after the Tyre Nichols incident, a Alabama men’s basketball player was charged with the alleged shooting of a 23-year-old woman near the university campus. A car crash incident involving the top prospect of the 2023 NFL Draft Jalen Carter too surfaced recently with shocking details that could very well ruin his football dream. Barkley had select words to say about the whole ordeal that claimed the lives of three people.
Charles Barkley addresses the Alabama incident with staunch warnings
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The University of Alabama found itself under the spotlight when two of its students got involved in a shooting incident. Alabama basketball player Darius Miles and an acquaintance named Michael “Buzz” Davis were found responsible for the death of 23-year-old Jamea Jonae Harris. As the details of the events unfolded, another Alabama student Brandon Miller was found to have some involvement in the incident. In the latest episode of The Steam Room, Charles Barkley, an Auburn University alumnus, discussed the matter with co-host Ernie Johnson, highlighting some harsh truths regarding the matter.
The Hall of Famer said, “I just want to tell these young kids. Parents, talk to your young kids about decision making because yeah, we are young, we all do stupid stuff. I’ve done stupid stuff but man, sometimes there’s some repercussions and that you can never come back from.”
He added, “We’ve lost three kids and I’m not here to judge anybody’s guilt or innocence but somebody played a hand in these things and they were all young kids. And I challenge all the parents out there that talk to your kids, say ‘Hey, yeah you’re gonna make mistakes. That’s part of being young but some decisions are life threatening, life altering‘. Man, I just feel tremendous sadness, we’ve lost three young people.” Barkley then doubled down on his criticism of the parents of the kids involved in the gruesome affair.
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“Parents talk to your kids, stop trying to be their friends. That’s the biggest problem,” Barkley warned. He reiterated the importance of thinking twice before taking a step that could alter human lives forever.
What really happened?
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As per reports by USA Today, Brandon Miller, who is projected to be a lottery pick in the 2023 NBA draft, was asked to bring a gun by his former teammate Darius Miles. After Miller brought the gun, Myles handed it over to Michael Davis who was apparently the one to shoot Jamea Harris in Tuscaloosa. Following the incident, Miles was arrested by the authorities. Additionally, Alabama University removed the basketball player from their team and the campus. Miller on the other hand was not charged for his alleged involvement which infuriated Harris’ parents.
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