Charles Barkley and Stephen A. Smith just set the stage for fireworks at ESPN. With the legendary Inside the NBA set to move under ESPN's umbrella next season, Barkley made it clear he's not holding back-especially when it comes to what he calls "fools on the other network."
During Thursday's show, Barkley took aim at Kendrick Perkins and ESPN for their coverage of the Los Angeles Lakers, igniting a back-and-forth that pulled in Smith, who had been touting the Cleveland Cavaliers as a serious threat to the Boston Celtics. And in classic Stephen A. fashion, he didn't let it slide.
"Yo Chuck, stop the b.s. with the ‘y'all,'" Smith fired back on social media. "Attach a name to it. I know I've been talking about @cavs being the No. 1 threat to the @Celtics. Once you come over here, there's gonna be some folks waiting to call YOU a fool. P.S. You know I love ya, though."
Yo Chuck, stop the b.s. with the "y'all." Attach a name to it. I know I've been talking about @cavs being the No.1 threat to the @Celtics. Once you come over here, there's gonna be some folks waiting to call YOU a fool. P.S. You know I love ya, though. See y'all soon. Yo… https://t.co/8PbBWVRlim
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) March 7, 2025
The exchange stemmed from Barkley's heated rant about ESPN's Lakers obsession, sparked by Perkins' claim that the Lakers "saved the NBA" with their recent trade moves.
"I saw a fool, idiot, on TV talking about the Lakers saved the NBA," Barkley said on the Thursday edition of Inside the NBA. "He's an idiot and a fool-Kendrick Perkins."
He doubled down, saying ESPN is too focused on the Lakers and Golden State Warriors, ignoring teams like the Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder.
With Barkley set to join ESPN's analyst roster next year, this war of words is just a preview. If there's one thing clear, it's that the debate table is about to get even more explosive.
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This story was originally published March 6, 2025 at 6:33 PM.