Barkley sounds off on ‘awful’ NBA

Everyone thinks it. Everyone knows it. But Charles Barkley is saying it. Repeatedly.

The first two games of the NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers have been a TV ratings success, but, continuing a trend this postseason, they haven’t been competitive. Viewers may not be tuning out, but Barkley, the “NBA on TNT” analyst, has admitted that they’ve been “really, really awful” and has talked openly and often about watching NHL playoff games instead this spring. He even turned up during Predators-Penguins Game 4 on NBC earlier this week to drive home his point, saying, “I’m just glad to be here because the NBA playoffs have not been great, but the Stanley Cup playoffs have been amazing.”

Normally, that’s the kind of talk that can hasten the end of a broadcasting career, but TNT and the NBA might even be secretly pleased. Barkley may be critical, but he’s entertaining and, at least for now, refreshing. And if a day comes when his bosses are less tolerant, he isn’t worried.

“Well, I make a lot of money so they can’t fire me,” he told reporters in a conference call Tuesday, as reported by USA Today. “Man, listen, everybody wants you to tell the truth unless they don’t agree with you . . . . The Cavaliers and Warriors only lost one game [between them, through the first three rounds]. That’s not competitive. I don’t really worry too much about my bosses worrying about me telling the truth. Our NBA playoffs have not been good. I hope I do get fired because they still have to pay me.”

Charles Barkley isn’t worried about being fired for candor.