Charles Barkley Speaks
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Charles Barkley looks on prior to game three of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Celtics and Heat on May 21, 2023.
The NBA Cup reaches an end tonight via the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks meeting the in finals. However, not everyone is excited about the in-season tournament that incentivizes players with financial bonuses on the line for winners. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver felt that extra money was the best perk to make players and teams take it seriously.
Legendary figure Charles Barkley insulted the NBA Cup format during an interview with fellow retired NBA player Tom Tolbert:
“I think the Cup thing is somewhat embarrassing. I’m disappointed that we have to make an in-season tournament to make these guys more money, so they won’t do load management.
But to have to pay these guys extra money to make them play other games – they should play basketball because they’re well-compensated to play basketball. To do an in-season tournament to make them extra money, come on, man. That’s a little bit ridiculous.”
It is hard to relate to an NBA player making tens of millions of dollars every year getting more money to feel rewarded. Barkley’s point does make sense, but the NBA’s desire to continue making more money puts the league under the same skepticism as well.
Is Barkley Right About NBA Cup
The belief of Barkley is that the league feeling they must come up with a way to appease players to play hard every night is the bigger issue. Barkley has ranted in the past about players like Kawhi Leonard and Joel Embiid using the term “load management” to sit out games where they are still at full health.
However, ratings growth for NBA Cup games this season do invalidate Barkley to some extent. Fans showing a stronger interest in these games and the NBA getting a bigger December event helps make the middle of the season feel more important. There are enough positives to keep this format going each season.
Barkley makes some fair points about how his generation played every game and never had to be questioned for their effort. Today’s players getting a bad wrap for missing games and not taking every night seriously is the bigger talking point from Barkley’s takes.
Barkley Has Criticism Of Today’s Stars
The long stint in broadcasting gives Barkley the chance to speak his mind and he has never been shy about this overall topic. Barkley and players from his era played a pivotal role in the future generations getting larger contracts and more opportunities.
The current generation of stars taking games for granted and seemingly enjoying missing time when they could realistically suit up for doesn’t sit well with him. Barkley going as far as to call the NBA Cup “an embarrassment’ expresses his true feelings on the intent behind Silver creating the in-season tournament.
Saturday’s intense game between the Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder provided proof that the teams will give a little more in these contests. Barkley deserves to have his voice heard and makes a fair point, but Silver’s idea has helped the league increase popularity during the usual dull parts of the regular season.