Why Charles Barkley Returning to Inside the NBA Is the Best

Photo Credit: MavsFan28, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Charles Barkley just got paid. Maybe it’s time for a new nickname. Buck-ster? The Round Mound of Mulah? Sir Charles the Well-Compensated?

After being wooed by LIV-Golf for months and contemplating retirement publicly, Barkley and Turner Network Television (TNT) agreed to a 10-year, $100 million (and potentially much more) extension that will keep him and the Inside the NBA crew together for the foreseeable future. This isn’t just a win for basketball fans - this is a win for America.

Barkley is like no other sports commentator in the world. He’s funny, he’s knowledgeable, and he’s totally, completely, and entirely unafraid. Unafraid of criticism, unafraid to criticize, unafraid to stand out, unafraid to take a stance, unafraid to be wrong, unafraid to be controversial. He’s one-of-a-kind.

He’s fresh air in a sports media landscape that can often get stale. So many commentators today are terrified of critiquing an athlete in fear that they may lose access in the future. Not Barkley. If you play poorly, he’s going to let you know. And he won’t be nice about it, either.

But he’s not overly critical. He just tells it like it is.

What also makes Barkley great is his willingness to be self-deprecating.

That’s not always easy for someone as successful as he is.

Barkley is in the Hall of Fame, after all. He is one of just six players with 20,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, and 4,000 assists. He was on the 1994 Olympic “Dream Team” and may have been its most productive player. He did win an MVP in 1993, and Michael Jordan did, in fact, exist at that point in time

Who could have replaced him? There’s no obvious candidate - at least, not anymore, since Draymond Green (who’s been heavily active in NBA media and has appeared on Inside the NBA on occasion) decided to throw a haymaker at one of his Golden State teammates during training camp. Seriously, who are our options?

Dwyane Wade? Handsome guy, beautiful wife, not all that interesting. Kevin Garnett? Too intense. Bill Walton? Too crazy. Magic Johnson? Too friendly. Candace Parker? Too woman (just a joke, she’s actually great) (seriously) (please don’t cancel me).

Who could possibly be unhappy about this development? Who wouldn't want to listen to the Chuckster ramble on about those big ole’ San Antonio women…oh, right...

...they probably aren't too thrilled.

It’s all in good fun, though. And besides, Charles has already stated that he would be a good boy and stop making fun of the ladies of Alamo City. You can trust the Prince of Pizza.

Besides, if you really want to, go ahead and call Charles “fat.” I bet he won’t make a big stink about it. Or maybe he will make a big stink, but it won’t be related to the “fat” comment, I can guarantee you that. Now maybe the Crisco Kid can finally upgrade to coconut oil. Or better yet just have someone start cooking your meals for you, Chuck. We want you around for a long time.