‘Screw Charles Barkley’: LeBron James Blasts TNT’s Barkley Over Critical Comments

Last week, we posted the comments of TNT basketball analyst Charles Barkley, who blasted Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James for being “whiny” because he called for more talent to be brought on to the club.

“He’s the best player in the world,” Barkley said. “Does he want all of the good players? He don’t want to compete?”

On Monday, James fired back.

“Screw Charles Barkley,” James told ESPN.

He added, “He’s a hater. What makes what he says credible? Because he’s on TV?”

James went on to take a personal shot at Barkley, saying that the character he’s displayed over the course of his career far outshines the character displayed by the now-retired Barkley during his playing days.

I’m not going to let him disrespect my legacy like that. I’m not the one who threw somebody through a window. I never spit on a kid. I never had unpaid debt in Las Vegas. I never said, “I’m not a role model.” I never showed up to All-Star Weekend on Sunday because I was in Vegas all weekend partying.

All I’ve done for my entire career is represent the NBA the right way. Fourteen years, never got in trouble. Respected the game. Print that.

James then challenged Barkley to confront him in person.

“(I)f this makes him want to talk to me, the schedule’s out there,” James said. “He knows every road arena I’ll be in. Don’t just come up to me at All-Star (game) and shake my hand and smile.”

Read James’s complete remarks here, via ESPN.

[images via screengrab]

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