NBA icon Charles Barkley has offered a controversial take on the league’s 65-game threshold to qualify for postseason awards.
The backlash over the new rule – which came into force in the 2023-24 NBA season – reignited after Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid suffered a meniscus injury, likely removing him from the MVP race.
2
Inside the NBA analyst Charles Barkley has said the widely-criticized 65-game qualification requirement for postseason awards is a ‘fair rule’Credit: X/NBAonTNT
2
The NBA has faced backlash over the newly introduced threshold after Philadelphia 76er star Joel Embiid suffered a meniscus injury, likely removing him from the MVP raceCredit: Getty
As part of the freshly renewed Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the NBA requires players to play in at least 65 regular-season games to be eligible for the most coveted individual awards.
Those include the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards as well as All-NBA and All-Defensive honors.
The Association introduced the threshold in a crackdown on the growing load management practices, seeing teams rest their players with no apparent injuries in games fans paid lots of money to attend.
The NBA has faced plenty of criticism over the requirement from the media and players themselves with the argument being it puts the league’s stars in harm’s way.
But Barkley, 60, thinks it’s a “fair rule” – and that it should be even stricter.
“These players got nobody to blame but themselves,” the 1993 NBA MVP said on Thursday’s Inside the NBA after the news of Embiid’s injury broke.
“The Players Association [NBPA] signed off on the deal.
“I thought it should have been 70 games, honestly, personally.”
Chuck added that “it’s unfortunate what happened” to Embiid, who will most likely be disqualified from claiming his second MVP award having already missed 13 games this season.
Nevertheless, the NBA icon believes the rule is necessary as NBA fans deserve to see their favorite players in action.
“These guys have put themselves in a situation where they didn’t respect the game,” Barkley said.
“They started resting and load-managing – and the NBA had to do something.
“These fans, man. They get to see these guys one time a year. They’re paying all this money for tickets.
“And these guys are making $30-60 million. They need to play.”
NBA Twitter lauded Barkley for his controversial remark.
“Chuck speaks a lot of sense,” one wrote.
“Part of being good is being consistent and tough…” another added.
“Right?! Sitting out ~20% [of games] and getting a year award is insane,” a third said.
“Players did bring this upon themselves by sitting out games due to rest,” one wrote.
Embiid seemingly aggravated his knee injury in Philadelphia’s 119-107 loss to the Golden State Warriors.
And after the game, Warriors star Draymond Green blamed the new “bulls**t” rule for the 76ers star’s ordeal.
“Joel playing tonight felt very much so because of the 65-game limit,” he said on his podcast.
News
Dak Prescott’s Contract Extension Could Shatter NFL Records with a
In the high-stakes world of NFL contracts, the Dallas Cowboys find themselves at a pivotal crossroads with star quarterback Dak Prescott. As whispers turn to talks, the…
Watch: Donovan Edwards breaks off two monster TD runs for Michigan football in CFP championship
To say Donovan Edwards had a good first quarter in the College Football Playoff Championship against Washington would be a gross understatement. The running back got two carries in the opening…
ᴛaylor ꜱwɪft is offiᴄially one of the most famᴏus and ꜱuᴄᴄessful human beingꜱ on the face of the planet and Fᴏx Newꜱ can’t handle that…
As the 34-year-old Pennsylvania native’s fame and fortune continue to top the charts, the ultra-conservative “news” network is desperately trying to come up with whatever conspiracy theories…
Taylᴏr ꜱwift Hitꜱ Back at Critiᴄs About Her Pᴜbliᴄ Drinking Habɪts: “What I Do With MY LIFE Is Nobᴏdy’s Business,” I’m A Grown Woman And I Have every right to enjoy a night out ᴡith friends ᴡithout being judged or critiᴄɪzed by a bᴜnch of lᴏsers hɪding behind their keybᴏards.”..
Being an eclectic chap, Cockburn has sampled his fair share of music. And he’s not ashamed to admit, contrary to Al Michaels’s suggestion that Taylor Swift only…
Full 7-round 2024 NFL mock draft: Patriots pull off shocking trade
The New England Patriots are getting closer to the 2024 NFL draft, when they’ll have to finally make a decision on the No. 3 overall pick….
CMC had 83 rυshes for first dowпs this seasoп. No other RB had more thaп 68
Christiaп McCaffrey’s Impact: Settiпg the Staпdard for First Dowп Coпversioпs Amoпg Rυппiпg Backs Iп the realm of professioпal football, where statistics ofteп serve as beпchmarks…
End of content
No more pages to load