Charles Barkley never shies away from commenting on topics he finds interesting. His candid comments have often landed him in hot water, but that has hardly stopped him from speaking his mind. The veteran NBA commentator recently came with all guns blazing for America’s fastest-growing sport. The leisure sport has garnered the attention of many big names in sports, like Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Tom Brady, and even Michael Phelps.

However, it seems like the Chuckster isn’t a huge fan of the sport, as he recently slammed it on a recent TNT broadcast.

Charles Barkley slams America’s fastest-growing sport

Scoot over golf, a new sport is in town. If you are unfamiliar with the term, pickleball is a paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping pong. It is played with a paddle and a plastic ball on a court that is about the size of a badminton court. The game is simple to learn, making it accessible to players of all ages and skill levels. The sport has been gaining attention since 2021.

During a recent episode of ‘NBA on TNT,’ the crew were discussing the highlights of Game 2 between the Denver Nuggets and the Phoenix Suns. Ernie Johnson then went on to reveal that Michael Malone, Denver Nuggets’ coach got a cut on his forehead playing pickleball. This elicited quite a controversial statement from Charles Barkley.

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He said, “Is he old enough to play pickleball?”

“It’s America fastest growing sport, Chuck. Haven’t you heard?” added Ernie Johnson.

Chuck’s statement even prompted Kenny Smith to comment on it. He said, “Have you ever watched them play?”, supporting the stance that it’s not only old people who play the sport.

However, the Chuckster refused to back down. He said, “Pickleball’s for old people, That’s not a young man’s sport. That’s an old man and old woman sport…it’s a bunch of old people.”

In contrast to Chuckster’s statement, pickleball is not a sport that only old people enjoy.

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Millions invested in pickleball

Many well-known athletes have become associated with the sport. Los Angeles Lakers legend, LeBron James was a member of the investment group that invested in Major League Pickleball Expansion team in September 2022. Also, Draymond Green from the Golden State Warriors and Kevin Love, who plays for the Miami Heat, were part of the same group. A fellow Warriors icon, Kevin Durant, swiftly followed this action by investing in an expansion team in October 2022. Tom Brady joined in on the fun by investing in a Pickleball league expansion club. Michael Phelps is also the owner of the club, AZ Drive.

Watch This Story:  Rob Gronkowski and Camille Kostek Enjoy Pickleball With a Bucs Player Who Once Left Tom Brady Fuming

The participation of these well-known athletes has contributed to the sport’s increased popularity and media exposure. People of different ages and backgrounds have come to love the sport since it is accessible and simple to learn. The game appeals to individuals looking for an enjoyable and low-impact sport owing to its low cost and equipment requirements.