“Just Being Jacka***s”: Charles Barkley Wants Harsher Standards for Disappointing NBA Stars

To limit or not to limit. Due to the Joel Embiid injury, the 65-game rule has come under the microscope. While more players step out to oppose the enforcement, the same isn’t true for media members and/or legends. Leading the charge to adhere to this standard is Charles Barkley. After a heated debate during NBA on TNT, Chuck was back at it during The Steam Room podcast alongside Ernie Johnson.

“Guys are complaining about the 65-game thing…The players got nobody to blame but themselves. First of all, I already told you, it should have been 70.” The Philadelphia 76ers legend has been clear that the barometer should be even tougher for earning awards and accolades.

“I thought it should have been 70…First of all, the players union agreed to it. Asking guys to play 65 games out of 82, I don’t think that’s a lot. Man, I’m disappointed…Make all this money but y’all are just being jacka**es about this.” 

To him, the money and appearance ratio needs to stack up. As a result, he would even bring up some big names from earlier in the NBA timeline. “Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Bill Russell. Bill Russell made $10,000 a year, he played all the games. Dr. J [Julius Erving], the most he made was 250-something thousand. You guys are making 30,40,50 million dollars to play stupid basketball, 65 days a year, and y’all are complaining. Shut the hell up.”

However, not every legend is as extreme in his stance as Charles. His co-host and friend/rival, Shaquille O’Neal, did want some compromise with the situation.

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Shaquille O’Neal went against Charles Barkley to side with the players

While LeBron James was unbridled in his anger at the media and their role in the injury to Embiid, not everyone from the media has been “against” the players. Names like the Los Angeles Lakers legend have been on the players’ side.

Or, at least, in terms of horrific injuries. While Shaq too believes that the rule is necessary, especially given the rampant load management that ran amuck the league, he believes freak injuries deserve a caveat. Given how JoJo injured his knee, with a falling Jonathan Kuminga, the big man believes some compromise is necessary.

While the ruling is set for this season, would you like things to change in the upcoming years?

Read More: Dejected Shaquille O’Neal Defends Joel Embiid From TNT Crew on Live TV: “Fell on My Damn Knee”