In a recent episode of Inside the NBA, Charles Barkley took aim at JJ Redick after Redick criticized the state of the NBA and its impact on viewership. Barkley, never one to shy away from voicing his opinions, responded with a fiery rebuttal that quickly went viral.
Redick had commented on the decline in NBA ratings, suggesting that the league’s product needs to be promoted more positively. He didn’t mention Barkley by name, but Barkley interpreted the comments as a slight against him and the other analysts who have been critical of the NBA.
During the show, Barkley said,
“He said something about ‘we’re the reason people ain’t watching this crappy product we got.’ Cause I can get you, brother. JJ, you better calm down because when you come for the King, you better not miss. Remember, I watch these Lakers games and you can’t hide the flaws they have. You’re just a dead man walking. They got rid of Frank Vogel who did a good job, they got rid of Darvin Ham who did a good job but you came out there thinking you were gonna change things with that same ugly girl you went on a date with.”
holy shit charles barkley just went IN on JJ Redick😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/QZZ94hTSJP
— KingCharge (@KingCharge) January 3, 2025
Redick, when asked about Barkley’s criticism in a press conference on Friday, responded with surprising poise.
“I didn’t make it all the way through the clip, I got to be honest with you1. My resting heart rate is probably 64 [beats per minute]. I watched the clip, it was 64. Literally don’t care. I have other thoughts, but don’t care.”
JJ Redick when asked about Charles Barkley’s criticism: “Literally don’t care” pic.twitter.com/z0dYSvru2p
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) January 4, 2025
Redick’s calm and collected response stood in stark contrast to Barkley’s fiery rebuttal, showcasing his ability to handle criticism with maturity and professionalism. Despite the tension between the two, Redick remains focused on his role as head coach of the Lakers, leading the team to a solid 19-14 record.
