What Did LeBron James Say About Charles Barkley? Cavaliers Star Blasts NBA Analyst, Responds To Criticisms

Having been the subject of criticism by Charles Barkley for years, LeBron James decided enough was enough. The three-time NBA champion fired back at the “Inside The NBA” analyst,” defending his legacy and calling out Barkley for his past indiscretions.

“He’s a hater,” James told ESPN after the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 104-97 Monday night. “What makes what he says credible? Because he’s on TV?”

James’ words came in response to Barkley’s most recent comments about the four-time MVP. After James publicly campaigned for the Cavaliers to acquire another playmaker, Barkley described James’ statement as “Inappropriate. Whiny. All of the above.”

Barkley went on to criticize James for trying to play with too many good players and not wanting to compete. It’s been a similar theme for Barkley, who earlier in the summer told The Ringer’s Bill Simmons that James would never be a top five all-time player.

James had mostly been silent about Barkley, but he unleashed his thoughts when pressed on the issue Monday.

“I’m not going to let him disrespect my legacy like that,” James said. “I’m not the one who threw somebody through a window. I never spit on a kid. I never had unpaid debt in Las Vegas. I never said, ‘I’m not a role model.’ I never showed up to All-Star Weekend on Sunday because I was in Vegas all weekend partying.

“All I’ve done for my entire career is represent the NBA the right way. Fourteen years, never got in trouble. Respected the game. Print that.”

James defended his relationship with other top NBA players. He’s close with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, who he joined with the Miami Heat in 2011, eventually going on to win two championships with the team. He hasn’t been shy about his friendship with the likes of Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul, even though James has been criticized for being too friendly with his competitors.

“Go watch the '93 Finals when John Paxson hit the shot,” James said, referencing the NBA Finals when the Chicago Bulls beat Barkley’s Phoenix Suns. “Barkley and Jordan were laughing and joking with each other during one of the games while somebody’s shooting a free throw. In the Finals. But, oh, nobody were friends back then.”

Even though the Cavs won the 2016 NBA Finals after upsetting the best regular-season team in NBA history, this season has been one of James’ most tumultuous in several ways. Cleveland’s loss to Dallas gave the team a 7-8 record in January, marking James’ first losing month in which he played at least 10 games since 2006.

James was involved in another feud of sorts this year when he didn’t take kindly to some comments made by New York Knicks president Phil Jackson. Jackson referred to James’ business associates as his “posse,” and James’ reaction created national headlines for days.

After hearing former players talk about him for so long, it appears that James will no longer take their shots lying down.

“I collect one paycheck from this,” James said. “There’s the owner, Griff’s [David Griffin] the GM, I’m the player. Screw Charles Barkley.

“I’m tired of biting my tongue," James said. “There’s a new sheriff in town.”