Charles Barkley performed a defensive stance on his personal take that hurted Klay Thompson late last month.
Speaking on his appearance in Inside the NBA, the outspoken Barkley thought that Thompson took his critical words personally.
“I was disappointed that he took it personally,” Barkley said following the NBA on TNT’s Tuesday double-header (h/t NBC Sports’ Ali Thanawalla). “I said a few years ago that I thought he was 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’m saying he’s not the same player.”
When asked by host Ernie Johnson if he expects Thompson to be back in his ideal and old form, Barkley politely said no given the cruelty of time.
“No, but I was talking about what I’ve been seeing, going back to the Finals,” Barkley said. “When I went back to the Finals last year, he’s … he said give him time. No, when you get older, time ain’t your friend. I love Klay and that’s what bothered 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 injury, he’s not the same guy. I wasn’t worth a damn my last two years in the NBA.”
His fellow analyst Kenny Smith sympathized with Thompson and tried to interpret what he wanted to convey on Barkley ā that he was hurt and he needs time to make a bounce back for his career.
“This is what he’s saying. I understand what you said,” Smith said. “But to me, you’re kind of putting it here in the present. What he’s saying is that he’s on an upward trajectory and he needs time to get to that point to plateau where he is. So you’re judging him off of today and not judging him off where he feels he’s going to be.”
For his part, Shaquille O’Neal detailed his argument that Thompson just hoped for respect on his contributions.
“I think a lot of guys, for what he’s done and how he’s done it, would have loved a little more respect,” O’Neal said.
“Shaq, we’ve got to do our jobs,” Barkley said in response.
“I’m just saying what I think,” Shaq reiterated. “I think he would have liked a little more respect. And like he said, give him a little time to get back and then if I don’t get back by playoff time, then you probably can make that comment. But the season just started… “
“Guys who have those two serious injuries, he’s just going to get older.,” Barkley said. “When I say he was the best two-way guard in the NBA, those days are over. He can still be a heck of an NBA player, and Ernie, we all get old, ain’t nothing wrong with that, but you factor in those two injuries, that’s the only point I was trying to make.”
After portraying perhaps the worst game of his career, when he was ejected and a major negative to the Warriors’ loss against the Phoenix Suns in Oct. 25, Barkley hammered Thompson with a gigantic take that he is not the “same guy” anymore.
Two days have passed following their win against the Miami Heat inside Chase Center, Thompson vented out and became emotional against the hall of famer as a response.
As such, we are still in the early portion of the season. The Dubs are coming off their grinding title year and Thompson is just trying to dust off from the long layoff he endured after missing over 900 days to recover.
He might be averaging odd numbers this year if compared to what he used to compile, the All-star swingman will always remain integral to what he contributed towards the foundation of Golden State’s modern day dynasty.
