Over the last few seasons, NBA TNT analyst Charles Barkley has been criticized for not knowing different players’ names. He has also has been picked apart because a lot of his guarantees do not come to fruition.
Shaquille O’Neal on Sunday, caught Barkley sleep during the first half of the Philadelphia 76ers and Wizards game.
According to Barkley, he was a little tired filming a commercial on Saturday in the sun. He even gave a shout-out acknowledging the company.
However, if you asked Barkley’s co-host Ro Parrish on the Charles Barkley GUARONTEES w/ Ro Parrish shared that the former MVP is the most polarizing sports figures on TV.
“Charles Barkley is a HOF basketball player, one of the best at his position. He is also arguably the greatest and the most polarizing sports figure on TV today. He didn’t just get there by mistake. He doesn’t just get up there and start talking,” said Parrish.
“There was a time where I thought he did, but once I started working with him five years ago, I said, oh, this is different. Certain people are built differently, and they can do abnormal things to most people, but they are normal to them. And of the many talents that Charles Barkley has the ability to watch multiple screens at one time and have an idea of what is going on on every screen.”
Barkley has been a member of the TNT NBA crew with Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson since 2000. A position he transitioned into after his playing career was over. He has gone to help Inside the NBA into an Emmy Award-Winning program alongside Ernie Johnson Jr, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal.
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Landon Buford is an accomplished sports and entertainment journalist based in Richardson, Texas, with over a decade of experience covering the NBA, WNBA, NFL, WWE, MLB, and the entertainment industry. Known for delivering high-impact stories and headline-making interviews, Buford has earned a global audience through content that blends insider access with compelling storytelling.
He previously served as director of editorial and brand communications at PlayersTV, where he helped shape the platform’s editorial voice and brand identity. He is also the founder and editor-in-chief of LandonBuford.com—an independent outlet with more than 1.6 million views and syndication from major platforms including Bleacher Report, Sports Illustrated and Yahoo Sports. Buford’s interviews with stars like Gary Payton, Kevin Durant, Mark Cuban and Chris Paul showcase his talent for meaningful, in-depth conversations.
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