Charles Barkley will go down in the history books as one of the NBA’s greatest ever players. The NBA icon carved out a legacy in the league which very few can rival. Moreover, Barkley has also created a name for himself post his playing career as a beloved analyst. While Charles Barkley’s charisma and humor have made him beloved by millions of NBA fans, he has notably avoided embracing social media. Until now. And many have begun poking fun at him, including Golden State Warriors’ very own Stephen Curry.
The 61-year-old , who has quite publicly distanced himself from social media on several occasions, made a shocking revelation that he has joined social media during a segment on TNT’s Gamebreak. The surprising revelation even stunned co-hosts, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith, as they trolled Barkley about “Onlyfans,” and “sliding into DMs.” On TNT’s Inside the NBA, Barkley stated that he joined Instagram because of “business purposes.”
This news has sent shockwaves throughout the NBA fraternity, especially considering Barkley’s past remarks about social media. His decision sparked trolling from fans and colleagues alike. And Steph Curry was quick to join in on the fun, following the Warriors’ 120-105 victory over the Raptors. Steph hilariously trolled Barkley during a post-match press conference. Curry remarked, “He better have somebody looking over his shoulder to make sure he press in. He need to have a proof-reader, somebody to make sure before he press in.”
Curry’s comment reflects Barkley’s reputation for candid and unfiltered opinions. As a presenter and NBA analyst, Barkley has constantly towed a fine line between humor and controversy. Despite enduring criticism on some occasions, Barkley has stood by his opinions and remained unapologetic about his takes. However, social media is a completely different ball game, and at times, it could prove to be a slippery slope. But what makes Barkley joining social media even more surprising is that he once claimed it was for “losers.”
Charles Barkley’s disdain for social media
During an interview on The Volume, Barkley said, “They don’t have a life. That’s why they’re such losers. You know what, let me sit around and look at the Internet, and let me just harass somebody who, first of all, is probably more successful.”
Charles Barkley is known for his blunt and straightforward manner of speaking, which can catch many people off guard in today’s world. However, his unfiltered approach has contributed to his successful career as a beloved NBA analyst. Barkley has also been a vocal critic of social media all these years, which makes it even more surprising that he has joined the very thing that he passionately loathes.
