[ESPN]LeBron James rips Charles Barkley: You're the NBA bad boy, not me

I don't disagree that lebron has been a model citizen as far as staying out of trouble and things like that....I just find it a little narcissistic to be talking about your legacy while you are still in the league. Sure MJ talks about it now....but he's retired. If he talked about it while he was playing i'd give him the same criticism.

 

So Iggy wasn't a core player pre Durant?
How is Barnes a core guy and Iggy wasn't? Because one was drafted and the other wasn't?

A major piece of their team, their Finals MVP, was a free agent acquisition. They bought like everyone else.

 

Lebron has played as much as MJ by now so if you think about it he can count as someone retired as he's been playing for over a decade. He only talked about his legacy because Barkley is taking potshots at him its not like he's talking about it out of the blue.

 

I'd rather count him as retired when he is actually retired. By the way, i'm not saying he is wrong here. Just saying I would prefer the "legacy" talk be kept to himself. It doesn't matter what someone does for a living, or how old they are, I would have the same reaction if I heard anyone refer to their own legacy.

 

Oh how badly I hope Barkley goes personal on Thursday night.

'Delonte West never F'd my mom.'

 

Time to pile on

 

as far as I'm concerned, to my original point of immediate core that got drafted and developed no he isn't. He's a big part of their team yes but his value became that much better because of those 4 which allowed a lot of things to open up for him and be a 6th man when he was probably really a starter on over half the teams in the league.

 

How the little piggies grunt

 

And my point is GS made a major free agent signing that propelled them into a championship team. They got an Olympian and former top option to sacrifice, and didn't do it all internally. If we are knocking teams for buying players, they bought one of the best wings in basketball who just so happened to be their main wing defender and Final MVP.

No, he isn't a part of the original players that were drafted and developed. But to the point of "built not bought", GS doesn't qualify.

 

This one must be true I guess. I remember Pippen calling Barkley fat, basically taking a **** on him and MY city, and Barkley not even really responding. Just kind of laid down and took it.

And I actually liked Barkley's time in Houston.

 

Chuck hurt his feelings so QJ had to get personal.

Barkley on @WaddleandSilvy on @ESPN1000: "I have no problem with what LeBron said ... I stick by what I said."

Barkley: "Clearly he Googled me and found out some things." Barkley says his initial criticism was "fair."

Barkley: "I'm just gonna keep doing what I do." Says he has no issue with LeBron.

Barkley on LeBron comments: "What do they call it when people go on the Internet and find out things about you?"

Barkley: "I'm not there to be friends with these guys. I'm there to do my job."

Barkley: "I'm not friends with any of these young guys. My job is to do my job."

Barkley has said he's not going to say anything personal about LeBron, but also has repeatedly said anyone under 40 can't take any criticism

Barkley on Wade saying he had to humble himself: "He's humbled, playing for that team."

Barkley: "This notion that we have to be friends - we're never going to be friends." Says the young generation "always takes it personally."

 

Couldn't have beaten the Sonics without him.

 

So what. Couldn't beat Utah WITH him. Had no such problems prior to his arrival.

 

Just have to say..that SAS surprisingly sums it well...Lebron saw his window for another title evaporate as soon as Durant made his decision to pair up with Curry, Klay and Green. If the Warriors make it a reality this year...Lebron will most likely never see a title again in his NBA career. And you know Durant, Curry, Green and Klay will try sticking it out for a few more years as a core unit.

Additionally, he would have to make the bitter choice of leaving Cleveland once again...That being said Barkley doesnt have the NBA resume to come at Lebron James. Barkley should just shut up, and continue to hate on the Rockets like he normally does.

 

Lebron's probably right and somebody needed to call out Barkley, but why is LBJ so moody and sensitive this year? Reminds me of KD last year. Dude needs to stop caring so much about his legacy and stop expecting us to feel sympathy for the best basketball player on the planet and half-billionaire. Let your game do the talking Bron, I was just starting to like you again don't pull this ish! We need someone to root for against the Warriors!

 

More popcorns? Anyone?

 

When James gets called out for wanting Miami to pamper him by Jackson he sidesteps that by focusing on the "posse" comment. Not excusing what Jackson said, but he never had to answer for that when Riley not allowing him to run the Heat was probably the reason why he went back to Cleveland an organization he could low-key run.

Now he whines about not having the help he needs when he is the de-facto GM of the team because they do whatever he wants them to do because they don't want to lose him again. Barkely rightfully calls him out on it and now he sidesteps it by attacking Barkely. Now he doesn't have to answer for his whining or the fact that his team just lost to a terrible team and has a sub .500 record in January.

Wouldn't Jordan say the exact same thing Barkely said? Would LeBron go after him, too?

 

Just out of curiousity, does Cleveland or Houston have the better roster? If we swapped Lebron with Harden. Would Cavs still be 1st in the East? Would Rockets be going to the Finals?