Lakers coach JJ Redick went off on a little bit of a tangent final month about how a very vital media is likely to be partially liable for declining NBA rankings this season.
Charles Barkley, a member of the basketball Hall of Fame and longtime analyst on TNT’s “Inside the NBA” present, apparently took Redick’s phrases personally and issued his outburst two weeks later.
As Barkley and firm confirmed highlights from the Boston Celtics’ 118-115 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night time, host Ernie Johnson commented on the excessive variety of three-point photographs (96) tried through the recreation.
Barkley sarcastically commented that it was his fault and that “I heard JJ Redick said something about me.”
Johnson took the bait and requested, “Did he point out you particularly or was he simply speaking about individuals on TV?”
Barkley took over from there, speaking about Redick because the Celtics-Timberwolves highlights continued to roll.
“He stated one thing about it we are the reason people don’t look at this crappy product we have” Barkley stated. “Yeah, we, like on the market hitting 100 threes an evening. JJ, JJ, for those who come for the king, you higher not miss. ‘Cause I can get you, brother, ‘trigger I bought your… bear in mind, I’ve your Lakers video games.”
Barkley continued to speak about Redick and the Lakers (19-14), mentioning the 2 males who preceded Redick because the workforce’s head coach.
“You cannot disguise the failings they’ve. You’re only a lifeless man strolling,” Barkley stated. “They removed Frank Vogel, who did a very good job. They removed Darvin Ham, who did a very good job. You got here on the market pondering you have been going to alter issues with that very same ugly lady you went on a date with.
At this level, Johnson resumed describing the highlights proven on the display, however Barkley was undeterred and continued talking over him, a lot to the amusement of fellow analysts Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith.
“He bought there pondering, ‘I could make this factor work.’ Hell, you possibly can. Put some make-up on that pig. The Lakers stink, man. Come on man,” Barkley stated. “We’re the rationale the rankings are down. We’re the rationale, like we’re taking part in. … Hey hear, if me and Shaq have been taking part in, the rankings could be down. But in all honesty, if me and Shaq performed, we might be just like the third or fourth finest participant on that Laker workforce proper now. ‘Chuck, get within the recreation, Shaq, get within the recreation!’ Damn bombs on the market, it is Frank Vogel and Darvin Ham’s fault.
Johnson lastly requested, “How did we get there from Minnesota and Boston?”
Barkley replied: “Because all these individuals who increase 100 threes say we are the motive the rankings are down. Thirty seconds till one other three-point capturing contest!”
The Celtics lead the league this season with 50.6 three-point makes an attempt per recreation, whereas the Timberwolves are sixth with 40 makes an attempt per recreation.
Sports Media Watch reported in mid-December that a mean of 1.4 million viewers watched NBA video games on ABC, ESPN and TNT this season, down 19% from final yr. Barkley and the “Inside the NBA” crew are amongst those that have criticized the league’s gamers for the quantity of three-pointers they try.
Redick, who labored for ESPN as an NBA analyst from 2021 till he was employed by the Lakers in June, was requested concerning the rankings decline whereas addressing reporters earlier than Los Angeles’ recreation in opposition to the Sacramento Kings on Dec. 19. Redick provided quite a few potential explanations earlier than turning his consideration to the media.
“I do not assume we — and for us I’ve been part of this, we as form of nationwide companions — have achieved a very good job of storytelling, of celebrating the sport,” Redick stated. “If I’m an informal fan and each time I activate the tv you inform me the product sucks, nicely, I’m not going to look at the product. And that is precisely what has occurred over the past 10-15 years. I do not know why. It’s not humorous to me.
He added: “The league is extra gifted and expert than it was 18 years in the past after I was drafted. This is a truth. There are extra wonderful gamers. There are extra wonderful groups. … We haven’t got anybody keen to level out the truth that this can be a incredible recreation and we must always speak about it and have fun it in a constructive approach. That does not imply we do not criticize it. We ought to criticize it. But we must always have fun it. Nobody is doing it.
The NBA has acquired some constructive rankings in latest weeks. Nielsen stories that the league’s five-game Christmas Day schedule averaged 5.25 million viewers, up 84% from final yr. The Lakers’ 115-113 win over the Golden State Warriors that night time averaged 7.91 million viewers and peaked at about 8.45 million viewers.
With the NBA leaving TNT after this season, “Inside the NBA” will transfer to ESPN however will proceed to be produced by TNT.
