‘It’s Disrespectful’: Charles Barkley Blasts NBA Stars Resting

Notably, both Jokic and LeBron James played on Sunday. Before the Nuggets’ last game against the Spurs, Jokic had played 64 games in the season, and it was inevitable that he would play in the last game to become eligible for the end-of-season awards. James played only 17 minutes in the Los Angeles Lakers game against the Utah Jazz. 

According to the Associated Press’s Tim Reynolds, the combined salary of all the players sitting out Saturday’s games was $2,526,031,083. Players worth $2.5 billion sitting out and leaving fans with a subpar experience was something that Barkley took issue with.

However, it wasn’t the only thing about NBA players that left Barkley unhappy with the league’s state. 

Charles Barkley takes issue with the backlash against the 65-game rule

Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Anthony Edwards, and Stephen Curry all missed end-of-season awards. Doncic and Edwards, who played 64 and 61 games, respectively, despite having exceptional regular seasons, missed the 65-game mark needed to be eligible for the awards.

While there is a growing backlash against the rule, Charles Barkley supported wasn’t having any of it. He blamed players for forcing the league to interfere.

“I don’t think 65 games is a lot to ask, man,” said Barkley. “Shut the hell up. Y’all voted on that in the collective bargaining, and now y’all want to complain. If y’all wasn’t sitting on your a** half the time sipping margaritas and stuff, they wouldn’t put the 65 games in there. Shut the hell up.”

While Charles Barkley might be right in blaming the load management that forced the league’s hand, in a league where injuries are unpredictable, rules cease to be fair. Doncic’s historic season, which saw him score a league-high 2143 points, will go unmarked because of just one game, and Edwards will meet the same fate because he was injured.

What do you think? Should the NBA stick to the 65-game rule? Or is it time for a change?