Charles Barkley is tired of not hearing about the Cavaliers and Thunder, the top two teams in the NBA, and the top two for the vast majority of this season.
Barkley made that abundantly clear, as usual, on TNT’s Inside the NBA. Basically, Barkley said he’s tired of hearing the “fools on the other network” talk about little beyond the Lakers and Warriors. “They’ve had a good two weeks,” he said of LA.
Instead, he’d like to see more love for the Cavaliers and Thunder — two teams that have gotten it done all year. In fact, the Cavs have won at least 12 straight three times this season, becoming just the second team in NBA history to accomplish the feat.
For the record, the NBA has been around since 1947. And the Cavs, as well as the Thunder, are making all sorts of history. But Barkley is right. That “other network” is ESPN, and it is utterly obsessed and constantly fawning over the Lakers and Warriors. It’s as if they’re the only two teams in the NBA.
Barkley specifically called out former NBA center and current ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins, who said the Lakers’ recent run of success has “saved the NBA” season. Someone thought it was a good idea to give Perkins an analyst job, and while he seems like a nice guy and all, he sure says some outlandish stuff. Barkley does, too — but his comments generally come with some actual perspective.
“He’s an idiot and a fool,” Barkley said, before requesting that Shaquille O’Neal identify the individual in question.
“Which one you talking about?” O’Neal responded.
“Kendrick Perkins,” Barkley replied, before taking his thoughts further. “First of all, the Lakers are having a great two weeks. He said the Lakers saved the NBA season. That’s because those fools on the other network — which we’re gonna be working with next year — that’s all they talk about.”
Barkley wasn’t finished.
“Let me tell y’all something … the Lakers are doing great. (But) there’s a long way to go. The season has been going great for the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Oklahoma City Thunder,” he added. “…Y’all are idiots because you talk about the Lakers and the Warriors all the time. The Cleveland Cavaliers have won 12 straight games. Oklahoma City got the MVP (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) and they are on fire. Y’all want to talk about who’s in second place.
“… But Oklahoma City and the Cavs have been ballin’ for six months. Y’all talking about teams that have had two great weeks.”
Charles Barkley says “fools on the other network that were gonna be working with” should place some focus on Cavs and Thunder and quit making everything about Lakers and Warriors that “have had a good two weeks.” pic.twitter.com/adwBIny4v0
— Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops) March 7, 2025
So, yeah. Barkley is fed up. The good people of Cleveland and Oklahoma City are highly likely in his corner on this one. ESPN has always been obsessed with the larger markets, catering to the coasts and the NBA fans there.
But as Barkley mentioned, the network is too often forgetting about the top two teams in the league this season. And the Cavs and Thunder have been it all season and not just, you know, the past couple of weeks.
How would you rank the months based on sporting events?
"Those are my three favorites, October, then April and March"
–@AmicoHoops pic.twitter.com/asAPBJv04g
— Full Court Cleveland (@FullCourtCLE) March 6, 2025
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WooHoo for Barkley ! ! !
And YES Garland HAS improved greatly under Better Coaching.
Apparently both have examined the video & come to some really
good conclusions.
Although they’ve done exceptionally well,,, lately, they’ve laxed a bit
(some on defense) in the areas of actually getting the three ball to go IN,
and also at taking advantages of actually MAKING the free throws too.
The three minute session in the Chicago 4th quarter is a definite exception.
That explosion was great to watch. Could’ve beaten anyone with ballin’ like
that. But the temporary let downs in concentration, which you ARE going to
have at times, must be short lived, with quick recognition, & get it back together
quickly. Long periods like they have experienced & fought back to win lately, won’t
play well in the playoffs with the top teams. Hopefully, Coach will have them back on track by then. Just pullin’ it out at the last second is okay at times, but NOT what you’d like every game…. you’ll lose fans,,lol,,,, the heart can’t take it.