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Charles Barkley, a revered figure in basketball, has made an indelible impact on the NBA. However, amidst all the accolades and admiration, Barkley recently found himself entangled in a storm of slander because of?Golden State Warriors star guard Stephen Curry. The unwarranted criticism aimed at Barkley was because of the harmless love shown by the 4x NBA champion towards a few legends of the game recently.

Barkley seamlessly transitioned into the world of sports commentary, joining the illustrious panel of ‘Inside NBA’ alongside fellow basketball icon Shaquille O’Neal. His insightful analysis and candid remarks captivated fans and solidified his place as a beloved pundit.

Charles Barkley gets slammed for his lists

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As the sports world buzzed with debate over Steph Curry’s all-time starting 5 picks, the focus shifted from the Warriors guard’s selections to the omissions of current NBA stars from similar lists of some legends, including Barkley. Analysts Chris Broussard and Rob Parker recently discussed how most of the former stars don’t have guys such as LeBron on their lists.

USA Today via Reuters

Broussard and Parker defended Curry’s choices, attributing them to his competitive nature. However, Barkley found himself at the center of brutal slander for not showing LeBron James & other current icons the respect they deserved.

“Charles Barkley and those guys who didn’t play. Not a contemporary of theirs, they don’t have them in their top ten,”?Parker said. He further questioned how someone could not have LeBron in their top-10 greatest players of all time lists. “These are NBA guys who know the game… You just go player after player who go out of their way not to put him in their top-5 or top-10 is mind-boggling to me.” Parker gave the example of Ray Allen as well.

He said, “Aren’t you shocked that Ray Allen, who won a championship with LeBron, he’s in the same locker room, he played with the guy, competed with the guy, doesn’t think he’s a top five? The All-time leading scorer in the NBA?”?

 

Critics and fans alike found LeBron’s exclusion all the more puzzling. As discussions raged on, questions arose about the criteria and personal biases influencing such decisions.

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The controversy surrounding Barkley, as well as Ray Allen’s picks highlighted the intensity of fandom and the delicate balance public figures face when sharing their views on revered basketball legends. But how did this conversation start? It was because of Steph showing some harmless love to some of his favorite NBA stars.

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Stephen Curry’s all-time starting five

Steph Curry’s interview with BuzzFeed caused ripples of surprise when he revealed his all-time starting five. The Golden State Warriors point guard opted for a roster stacked with A-listers. He chose legends Shaquille O’Neal and Tim Duncan as his frontcourt. Then he moved to the small forward and shooting guard positions: Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Curry considered starting Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird at small forward but ultimately went with the Black Mamba.

However, the absence of Curry’s longstanding rival LeBron James from Curry’s list raised eyebrows. LeBron’s absence from Curry’s dream team caused intense disputes among fans and pundits because he is one of the most well-known players in NBA history and is the all-time leading scorer.

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What are your thoughts on Parker’s comments? Let us know in the comments below.