There was a time when Charles Barkley wanted “someone to punch” Draymond Green in the face. But those fiery days seem like a distant memory now, as mutual respect has replaced the animosity. Fast forward to the Auburn Tigers’ first loss of the season, and Barkley—an Auburn alum—found himself praising guard Chad Baker-Mazara for bringing that edgy, in-your-face energy to the court. It wasn’t just admiration; it was a comparison to none other than Draymond Green.

After Auburn’s tough loss, Barkley joined The Next Round to unpack the game. When asked about Baker-Mazara’s fiery style, Barkley didn’t hold back. “It’s a combination of both,” he said when asked if he appreciated the guard’s edge or wished he’d tone it down. Barkley explained, “Any time you play over on the edge, you’re going to go over the edge. And, it bit him in the a** against Yale.”

Chuck is right, as in that game, Baker-Mazara’s aggressive play cost Auburn points. Less than five minutes into the game, he was ejected after receiving a flagrant 2 foul for making contact with Yale’s August Mahoney. As the two players sprinted up the court, Baker-Mazara appeared to shoulder-check Mahoney, a move that instantly set off the latter, leading to the flagrant foul call after a quick review. But otherwise, the mindset works in Auburn’s favor, the co-host notes.

“97% of the time, it’s so, so positive for Auburn. And it can really get under the opponent’s skin.” Barkley agreed, likening him to Dennis Rodman and, of course, Green. “You want guys like Rodman or Draymond, guys who are good players who play on the edge,” he said.

But the Hall of Famer was clear-eyed about the risks, adding, “The problem with playing on the edge is you always go over the edge. You just hope it’s not at the wrong time.” Now, playing on the edge, the senior guard’s impact has been good for the team. This season, he’s averaging 13.1 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists with an impressive 58.2% shooting percentage, helping the team to a 7-1 run.

But Barkley’s praise for Baker-Mazara is surprising, given his rocky history with Green. Back in 2018, after Green’s heated spat with Rajon Rondo during the playoffs, Barkley infamously said, “I want someone to punch him in the face.” Green didn’t take it lightly, once claiming he’d take Barkley’s analyst job.

Yet, the animosity dissolved when Charles Barkley appeared on The Draymond Green Show. Green recalled, “I was ready to go there if you said something. But you disarmed me so fast, like, ‘What’s up, man? How you doing?’” That moment of mutual respect now echoes in Barkley’s praise for Auburn’s rising star, a player embodying the same “edge.”

Chuck feels Auburn can still win big

No. 9 Duke may have handed No. 2 Auburn their first loss of the season on Wednesday night, but Charles Barkley walked away more impressed than disappointed. The Blue Devils took control late in the first half, holding onto the lead until the final buzzer. At one point, they even stretched it to double digits. But for Barkley, the Tigers’ performance told a different story.

Speaking on The Next Round, he confidently declared, “I watched the entire game—Auburn’s got a better team than Duke. They didn’t play great last night, in my opinion. … When you’re watching that game, you’re like, ‘Man, Auburn’s really good.’”

And he didn’t stop there. Barkley even called it “a good loss,” adding, “I know there’s no such thing as moral victories, but there are when you’re actually paying attention.” The national TV spotlight, Duke’s tough home court, and the Tigers’ resilience left Chuck thinking, “Man, Auburn’s got a better team than Duke.”

Just as Chuck said, there were some categories where the Tigers outperformed the Blue Devils statistically. The Tigers dominated the boards (39-34) and dished out more assists (17-11). But turnovers (8 to Duke’s 4) and fouls (20 total) cost them dearly. Whether his confidence holds up will be tested soon, as Auburn faces No. 8 Purdue on Dec. 21.