By DANIEL MATTHEWS
Published: 08:09 EST, 7 March 2025 | Updated: 08:27 EST, 7 March 2025
Stephen A. Smith told Charles Barkley to cut the 'bulls***' and warned 'Chuck' that ESPN stars are waiting to give him a piece of their mind when he joins the network.
The basketball legend will soon be co-workers with Smith, with 'Inside the NBA' to be broadcast on ESPN from next season.
But on Thursday, Barkley launched a remarkable attack on the network and, in particular, Kendrick Perkins.
The Hall of Famer branded Perkins a 'fool' and an 'idiot' and blasted ESPN's coverage of the Los Angeles Lakers.
He also took aim at the network's 'lame a** LeBron James-Michael Jordan debate' in a thinly-veiled dig at Smith, who was this week confronted by YouTuber Kai Cenat over who is the greatest basketball player of all time.
'I've said for years: the only people talking about LeBron and Michael are people on television who have no talent to talk about anything else,' Barkley said.
Charles Barkley took aim at ESPN
Stephen A. Smith fired back
Barkley blasted Perkins and ESPN over what he perceives as an obsession with the Lakers
'I've been saying that for years. I ain't hanging on to Nineties. I've always said it: LeBron is great, Michael is great. But y'all talk about it all the time... it makes me mad.
'The Oklahoma City (Thunder) and the Cleveland Cavaliers are the two best stories in the NBA this year.'
That prompted a response from Smith, who this week agreed a $100million deal with ESPN. Smith told Barkley to be clear about who he was talking about.
'Yo Chuck, stop the b.s. with the “y’all.” Attach a name to it,' the ESPN star wrote on X.
'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.'
With TNT losing domestic NBA rights next season, Barkley and TNT's Inside the NBA crew will move to ESPN.
Barkley has been a long-time critic of the network and its coverage of the NBA. He took issue with Perkins' recent claim that 'right now, the Los Angeles Lakers are saving the NBA.'
Perkins was speaking on Wednesday, before LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Co extended their winning streak to eight games.
Smith is pictured with boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr at the Knicks-Lakers game
Charles Barkley and Kendrick Perkins are seen speaking prior to a 2019 NBA Finals Game
'I saw a fool, idiot on TV saying the Lakers saved the NBA,' Barkley said. 'He's an idiot and a fool but he knows who he is... them fools on the other network, which we're going to be working for next year, that's all they talk about... y'all are idiots.'
Barkley added: 'But that's 'cause you fools on the other network, which we're gonna become fools next year when we be working on that network, but Oklahoma City and the Cavs been balling for six months. Y'all talking about teams that had two great weeks.'
In response, the former Celtics center hit back on social media.
'Hey @NBAonTNT,' Perkins wrote on X. '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.'
Steve Smith