Since joining the set of Inside the NBA in 2000, Charles Barkley has been a cornerstone of the show’s unique blend of humor and heartfelt moments. He is known for his often hilarious commentary, from his infamous “churros” jokes about San Antonio to his playful ribbing of fellow analysts Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith. Yet, beneath the comedic style, the NBA veteran has consistently demonstrated a deep capacity for compassion by using his platform to address serious issues and support those in need.

Recently, Barkley took to Instagram to share a deeply personal message about NBA referee Scott Wall, who is battling Leukemia. The video which was recorded on ‘Inside the NBA’ set, raw and emotional, showcased Barkley’s genuine care for Wall, whom he described as a “family member” despite the professional context of their relationship.

“Hey Scott Wall, Charles Barkley, here. Hey man you know been official, you are the part of the NBA family. If you are coach, you are a player or you a fan, you are part of the NBA family and I know you are battling this cancer thing right now. I just want to reach out to you to say, ‘Hey man, Wally Strong. Bless you and your family brother, Wally Strong!,’” said Barkley in the studio.

Scott Wall has been a respected NBA referee for three decades, known for his professionalism and fair officiating, and has worked in 1,530 games in 30 seasons as a referee. His battle with Leukemia has brought the tight-knit NBA community together, with players, coaches, and personalities like Barkley showing overwhelming support.

Back in November, Wall had gone through chemotherapy and had a 30-day hospital stay. Now to show respect to such an established person, the league has decided that all referees will be using a whistle marked with the No. 31 which is the jersey number of Wall.

“Let’s come together as an NBA family to show our support for Scott and his family. Let’s lift them up with messages of strength and encouragement as they take on this new challenge. #wallystrong,” read an X post by the NBA Referees Association.

Moreover, this isn’t the first time Charles Barkley has used his platform on Inside the NBA to address significant issues. For instance, Barkley’s emotional tribute to Kobe Bryant following the tragic helicopter crash in 2020 showcased his profound respect for his peers.

“

I just started crying. I’m not gonna lie. I just started crying. And I don’t even have that type of relationship with Kobe, but he was part of the basketball fabric of my 16 years in the NBA, my 19 years on TNT. He was like one of my kids,” said Barkley during a segment of the show.

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Barkley’s latest gesture toward Scott Wall is another testament to his unwavering support for the NBA community. By addressing Wall’s battle with Leukemia, Barkley has once again shown that he values the relationships and lives that make the sport so meaningful. However, while Barkley showed his light side here, recently he also took the time to roast the show.

Charles Barkley is not on board with Inside the NBA’s recent move

The future of Inside the NBA has been looming for months due to the legal battle between NBA and TNT. Everything started because the NBA had given the broadcasting rights of the 2025-2026 season to the Walt Disney Company, NBCUniversal, and Amazon Prime Video. But to the relief of the fans, the show quickly found its new home on ESPN. Interestingly enough, the stakeholders of the show didn’t know about the move.

Barkley during his appearance on the BetQL network, revealed that he and the remaining cast were not aware of the deals that were happening and that they all learned from the Internet.

“I’ll tell you what’s fun. They haven’t even told us we lost the NBA. We have to hear it through the media. And even this thins with ABC/ESPN, I heard about it on the internet. Scott Van Pelt, Brian Windhorst, Elle Duncan, Bob Myers, all friends of whine who I really like a lot. They texted me welcoming me to the ESPN family. I’m like, ‘What happened?’ TNT didn’t even have the courtesy,” said Barkley during the show.

The news of Inside the NBA moving to ESPN and ABC next season with $350 million profit marked a significant shift in sports broadcasting. In the end, the Hall of Famer’s pointed remarks highlight a broader tension within the industry, where big corporate deals often leave talent feeling like afterthoughts. Do you think the media giant did the right thing?