“Kids in the crib want dibs on the big man, can he come out, can he come out and start a jam?”
While I may not be his biggest fan, Charles Barkley’s on court exploits are legendary and his quotes are certified journalism gold. As was illustrated during his interview with our JR Gamble, Charles Barkley has no chill. The Hall of Famer was at the center of an ocean of reporters during the NCAA Tournament Media Day and here are a few quotes that might have escaped your local news blotter.
On The Golden State Warriors
“Guys like myself could have played in any era, I think people are going overboard because the Warriors are great, but theyre the only team thats actually winning like that. Its not like everybody in the NBA is winning like that. Oklahoma City, the Clippers, the Spurs, they dont play like that and theyre winning. You got one team with probably two of the ten greatest shooters ever and you can play like that. Nobody else has those guys.”
On Claims That He Only Watches Five Games a Season…
“I didnt say that, thats what those jerkoffs at ESPN said. What I said was Ive only watched six or seven full games. The Warriors, Spurs, Oklahoma City, the Clippers and the Cavs. Every time those teams play I watch the full games, but Im not going to watch Orlando against Philly. Thats what I said.
Theres five teams that can win the championship. Every time those teams have played, I watched the game from beginning to end. But the jerkoffs at ESPN, which they are, tried to say that I only watched five games. Thats not what I said. Im not going to sit around and watch Sacramento (expletive) play Milwaukee.”
(Photo Credit: USA Today)
On This Year’s NCAA Tournament….
“The three favorites are Kansas, Michigan State and North Carolina, but theyre not heavy favorites. It wouldnt surprise me if Villanova, Oklahoma made a run. I dont think theres a heavy favorite or even close to being a heavy favorite. This is going to be the most wide open tournament that its ever been.
Its not college basketballs fault that its not being dominated by freshman like it has the last five or six years. I think the kid at Duke (Brandon Ingram) is a good player, Ben Simmons (LSU) is not going to make the tournament but I cant think of no other freshman thats been kicking ass this year.”
On Oklahoma University senior guard Buddy Hield…
“I love the fact that he went to college for four years and got better every year. I think hes going to be a very good NBA player.”
On LSU F Ben Simmons….
“Dude, dont (expletive) tell me youre going to be player of the year if youre not going to make the tournament.”
On Stephen Curry…
“I dont want them to go overboard. Were starting to get like the NFL where you cant touch anybody now. Thats like people saying were hating on the Warriors. Steph Curry is a helluva player but he is benefiting from the new rules structure and all of a sudden were hating on the Warriors.
The kids a helluva player, great shooter but he is benefiting from the rules where you cant hand check. We spent an hour and a half with the refs. In college theyre trying to do that too. Its like, damn you gotta give the defense some chance.”
