Tensions rose on Thursday night between TNT's Charles Barkley and ESPN's Kendrick Perkins and the Oklahoma City Thunder were in the middle of it.
During TNT's NBA Tipoff show ahead of Thursday night's game between the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers, Barkley took a direct shot at Perkins and ESPN for their coverage of the NBA as a whole.
"He (Perkins) said the Lakers saved the NBA season. That's because those fools on the other network (ESPN), that's all they talk about," Barkley said. "The Lakers are doing great, got a long way to go, but reason the season's been going great for the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Oklahoma City Thunder. But y'all are idiots cause y'all talk about the Lakers and the Warriors all the time."
Charles Barkley hasn't even started at ESPN and he already wants all the smoke with Kendrick Perkins
pic.twitter.com/CGKibP0xrr
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) March 7, 2025
Barkley called out Perkins and ESPN for always talking about the Lakers and the Golden State Warriors and not covering the Thunder or the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are the two best teams in the NBA currently, and he made a great point.
ESPN's NBA coverage does center around the big market teams, for good reason, and they have lacked in covering the Thunder and Cavaliers this season despite them both holding the best record in their respective conference.
Of course, this is an even more interesting situation with the TNT crew joining ESPN's NBA coverage next season.
After Barkley's comments went viral on social media, Perkins then responded to him in his own social media post.
"Hey @NBAonTNT might wanna tell that senior citizen Charles Barkley that I'll be around," Perkins posted on X. "When he see an idiot or fool in person make sure he keep that same energy. He can come playing with me if he want to and imma Address his (expletive) like the numbers on a house. Straight from the 409 homeboy and we bar none and fade all."
Hey @NBAonTNT might wanna tell that senior citizen Charles Barkley that I'll be around. When he see an idiot or fool in person make sure he keep that same energy. He can come playing with me if he want to and imma Address his ass like the numbers on a house. Straight from the 409…
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) March 7, 2025
Of course, Barkley and Perkins have taken shots at each other in the past and it is clear that Perkins is no longer going to take anything more from Barkley.
Despite this, the two sides will eventually need to work it out before they become coworkers next season at ESPN or things could end up ugly.
Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published March 6, 2025 at 8:29 PM.