Charles Barkley suggests lack of NBA discipline tied to parenting

Charles Barkley didn’t hold back.

During a Monday appearance on “The Dan Patrick Show,” Barkley delivered a blunt take on parenting, discipline, and what he sees as a lack of both among today’s athletes.

“You can’t even yell at them anymore,” Barkley said, referring to current players.

He then expanded on that point.

“People talking about you can’t yell at your kids. Yes, hell you can yell at your kids,” Barkley said. “You’ll whoop their ass too … That’s why these kids are crazy.”

Barkley clarified he wasn’t advocating abuse, but said discipline is necessary.

“I’m not going around telling people to beat their kids, but I think if you don’t spank your kids and discipline them, they turn into some of these brats that we got today,” he said. “I’m not here for child abuse, but how are kids gonna know they’re doing something wrong?”

He continued by questioning whether young children can fully understand consequences without it.

“First of all, you can’t rationalize with kids, they’re dumber than rocks,” he said. “They don’t know they’re doing stuff wrong. But when you spank them, that gets the message across because they don’t want that.”

Barkley has long been outspoken on issues surrounding today’s NBA, including load management and player accountability.

He also made it clear Monday that outside reaction won’t change his approach.

“You can blast me on social media. You guys know I don’t do social media. I don’t ever read any comments. I don’t care what you think. Y’all can kiss my big Black a–,” Barkley said.