Charles Barkley has never been one to hold back. His blunt analysis has made him a fan favorite, but it has also led to feuds with several NBA stars. LeBron James, Draymond Green, and Dwight Howard have all been on the receiving end of his sharp words. Even sports commentator Skip Bayless hasn’t been spared. Love him or hate him, Barkley’s words stick.

Players like Blake Griffin have gone from despising him to respecting him, while others – like Kendrick Perkins – remain locked in a never-ending feud. But why does Barkley’s criticism hit harder than most?

In his prime, Griffin was a polarizing figure in the NBA, admired by many yet criticized by others. When asked about Barkley’s constant criticism, he didn’t hide his disappointment. “As a kid, I was a huge fan. And then, after so many times of hearing somebody say something negative about you, then it’s like, okay, this is like a thing – it’s a personal thing,” Griffin admitted. He even suggested that the old saying “Don’t meet your heroes” applied in this case.

However, time has a way of changing perspectives. On The Next Round, Barkley shared a surprising twist in their relationship. “You know what’s interesting? I’ve only gotten to know Blake in the last year,” he revealed. Meeting at Tahoe, the two spent time together, and Griffin had something unexpected to say: “I just want you to know I’ve hated you my whole career.” Barkley, always direct, responded by explaining his criticism. “A guy that explosive should be averaging double digits in rebounds.”

Charles Barkley told him, “Yo, man, do not take things I say or any person on television personally. Uh, I’ve never taken a personal shot at a player.” Despite their past, the two have grown close. “We’ve actually become really good friends,” Barkley shared, even joking that Griffin now sends him playful middle finger emojis whenever he makes jokes about his ads on the show. Their unlikely friendship is proof that even the biggest critics can eventually earn a player’s respect. That is, if their words come from a place of truth.

Charles Barkley vs. Perkins: The NBA feud that never dies

Well, above was the example of a beef ending in a positive outcome; however, this is not the case all the time. Take his beef with Kendrick Perkins, for example. Charles Barkley and Perkins aren’t exactly sending each other holiday cards these days. He even called him a “roach” once. What started as a debate over NBA coverage quickly turned into a full-fledged grudge match, complete with Twitter shots and name-calling.

It all started when Barkley took a few shots at ESPN on TNT’s Inside the NBA. He blasted Perkins for praising the Lakers, saying, “The Lakers — first of all, the Lakers have had a great two weeks…that’s all they talk about.”

But Barkley’s real frustration? The media’s focus is on the Lakers and Warriors. Even while teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder have been dominating. “The Cleveland Cavaliers have won 12 straight games. Oklahoma City got the MVP, and they are on fire,” Barkley said, pointing out how ESPN is missing the bigger picture. Why ignore teams that have been great for months?

Perkins didn’t take this lightly. On X (formerly Twitter), he shot back, saying, “When he see an idiot or fool in person, make sure he keep that same energy.” So, what’s next? Are they really going to keep this feud going? One thing’s for sure: there’s no love lost between these two.