Charles Barkley played against some of the greatest talents in NBA history. Over the course of his career, the 6-foot-6 forward has faced off against Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. As a result, Barkley understands the impact each superstar has had on the NBA and how they have helped the league reach new heights.
During a recent appearance on “The Dan Patrick Show,” Barkley boldly said Johnson and Bird “saved the NBA.” Barkley was referring to the league’s struggling numbers and dwindling fan base before Bird and Johnson made the rivalry between the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers popular again.
“He (Nikola Jokic) reminds me of Larry Bird and Magic Johnson,” Barkley said. “Because you might say, neither of those guys had extraordinary athletic ability. But because of hard work, brains and work ethic, they are two of the greatest players of all time. I tell people, they’re the most important players on the team. Two players.” NBA history because they saved the NBA. “
Buckley continued:
“Every time I see Magic and Bird, I say ‘Thank you for creating all of us.’ Without those two guys, they saved the NBA – obviously, Michael (Jordan) took it to another level —But without Magic and Bird, we wouldn’t be where we are today.”
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Charles Barkley made comments while discussing Nikola Jokic’s dominance, noting that his mental approach to the game is more similar to Bird and Johnson, which is why the two-time MVP is in a league full of elite athletes So dominant in the league.
Charles Barkley thinks LeBron James is ‘too weak’ to play football
On the same podcast, Charles Barkley shared his belief that LeBron James will not become a dominant player in the NFL, stating that the NBA legend is “too weak” to play on the court.
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“Please don’t say LeBron,” Barkley said. “It pisses me off that this guy thought he could play football. He played football in high school because he was better than everyone else. One thing about being a pro is you’re not bigger or faster than everyone else.”
charles Buckley continued:
“But honestly, most of my NBA players aren’t tough enough to play,” Barkley added. “They’re not. No disrespect intended. Basketball players aren’t like that.”
One of the biggest differences between the NBA where Barkley played and the current league is the decrease in physical fitness. As a result, we often hear players from previous generations discussing how the league has become “softer.”
However, there are now many elite talents in the NBA, and with the rise of sports science, more elite athletes have been produced, making the league more competitive than ever before.
Regardless of whether LeBron James ever excels on an NFL court, he has dominated the NBA for more than 20 years. Not many players have had that much success in any sport.