Student athletics administrations will always have a critic in Charles Barkley. Time and again, he’s demanded better conditions for college athletes every chance he’s got. His recent appearance on The Bill Simmons Podcast was no different. Normally targeting college athletics, this time he’s criticized the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU). The organization is already controversial for its debatable practices. Now Barkley is not hiding his disdain for it.

For a long time, Barkley has been opposed to athletic leagues benefitting from student-athletes. He’s not a product of a youth organization like the AAU. But he wants them to do better for its young participants.

Charles Barkley slams the AAU

Charles Barkley and Bill Simmons were on the same page about the management of student athletics. However, while Simmons felt the organizations need much to be desired for, Barkley straight up denounced them. His target was the AAU.

“You mean how we have screwed up basketball with AAU,” Barkley responded to a query from Simmons. The host and the NBA legend discussed how the AAU is not encouraging team building and fostering a policy of switching teams for individual reasons. They also weren’t on board the number of games AAU athletes play.

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While these flaws make athletes and parents hesitant to join the AAU, Barkley vehemently said, “I hate AAU.” Calling the culture they created “hopeless,” he says it has “a negative impact on players.” 

The negative impact, according to the 11-time All-Star, is because of the number of games – sometimes 2 or 3 – these young players have to play in a day. “Basketball is a very demanding sport,” ‘Sir Charles’ rightfully said. “To have these kids playing three games in one day… first of all, there’s no benefit to you as a player.” 

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A teenaged Charles Barkley was not involved in organizations like the AAU. He wasn’t gathering attention from college scouts in high school until much later. He would excel later as a collegiate athlete at Auburn University.

Barkley is concerned about athletes’ condition

The AAU is not the only organization on Barkley’s radar. He’s gone after the NCAA for similar reasons. He’s even called out his alma mater, Auburn to put accountability back in college athletics.

His primary concern is the grownups in these organizations exploiting the student-athletes. Regarding the AAU’s back-to-back schedules, he said, “It’s only just physically draining and putting your body in harm’s way.”

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One of the widespread criticisms about the AAU is whether it’s truly helping youth sports. Barkley feels it may be doing more harm than good. “There’s nobody in the world telling you playing three basketball games in a day when you’re a teenager, that is good for you. There is no way that could physically be good for you.”