Barkley, who loves Clay, doubles down on critical comment that originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
Believe it or not You, Charles Barkley, didn’t hold back.
The Hall of Famer and current TNT analyst doubled down on his criticism of Warriors star Klay Thompson on Tuesday.
After the nationally televised game between the Phoenix Suns and the Minnesota Timberwolves, Barkley said on “Inside the NBA”: “I’m disappointed in his personal opinion. “I said a few years ago that I think he’s the best two-way guard in the NBA. But because of age and injuries, he’s not the same player. I didn’t say he was a bum. I said whether he was the same player.” “
At this point, host Ernie Johnson asked Barkley if he wanted Thompson to be the same player.
“No, but I’m saying what I’ve seen, back to the Finals,” Barkley said. “When I got back to the Finals last year, he…he said give him time. No, time is not your friend when you get older. I love Clay, that’s what bothers me. I love that kid. I love everything about him. Like I said, I used to say this guy is the best two-way guard in the NBA, but because of age and injuries, he’s not the same guy. I’ve been nothing for the past two years NBA.”
Fellow Kenny Smith came to Thompson’s defense and tried to explain what the five-time NBA All-Star had to say when he admitted to his injury in a recent news conference by Barkley’s comments and demanded time to get back to who he was.
“That’s what he meant. I understand what you’re saying,” Smith said. “But to me, you kind of put it in the present. He means he’s on an upward trajectory and he needs time to get to the level of stability he’s at. So you’re judging him today, not based on his Feel to judge him.”
Shaquille O’Neal also tried to protect Thompson after the four-minute conversation.
“I think a lot of people, for what he did and how he did it, would have liked more respect,” Shaq said.
“Shaq, we’ve got to do our job,” Barkley responded.
“I’m just speaking my mind, Shaq said. “I think he would want more respect. Like he said, give him a little time to come back and if I don’t come back in playoff time then you might comment. But the season is just beginning…”
” has those two badly injured guys, he’s just getting old. “When I say he’s the best two-way guard in the NBA, those days are over.” He can still be a great NBA player, and Ernie, we’re all going to get old, there’s nothing wrong with that, but you think about those two injuries, that’s the only point I’d like to make. “
Thompson got off to a slow start to the 2022-23 season despite playing one of his best games of the season for the Warriors in Tuesday’s 116-109 loss to the Miami Heat. No. 1.
After scoring 19 points against the Heat, Thompson is averaging 13.3 points in seven games this season.
But after the Warriors’ win over the Heat on Oct. 27, Thompson called out Barkley’s initial comments in the final 90 seconds of his postgame press conference, saying that Thompson and Draymond Green were in the middle of their careers. This stage of slip.
“I have something to say,” Thompson said last week. “So, when a guy like Charles Barkley, on the platform he’s got, It hurts to say you weren’t the same player before the injury. Like ‘no, uh, man’. For several years in a row, it has become what I have to do today.
“I played 55, 57 games in three years. Give me some time to get it back. Heard someone say “Oh, he’s not the same player he was before the injury. “Like, uh. Who went through that and came back…I don’t know, my heart hurts hearing that. But you know, I’m going to internalize it and it’s gonna be a better me. The fuel. I’m very proud of what we accomplished last year, and I feel like I’m a big part of it. I’m not going to let these injuries be my crutch. I’m going to keep going and I’m going to have a great year. You can bet.”
RELATED: Zach Lowe defends Klay against Barkley with epic rant
Warriors It’s a one-season game for eight people. Thompson has played in seven of those games after not playing any catch basketball over the summer and playing just one preseason game. He’s a notoriously slow starter, and he’s 100% confident that he’ll be back at the All-Star level — at some point. When is up to him.
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