A 16-year NBA veteran Charles Barkley has once again categorically dismissed any talks about load management in the NBA. The Philadelphia 76ers legend appeared on The Insider for NFL Network and said, “It’s always a slippery slope.” During the off-season, Chuck was playing Golf at the American Century Championship, and appearing on the show gave his blunt opinion on load management in the NBA in comparison with the NFL while only agreeing for the football players under certain conditions.

The clip was shared on X by one-half of the show host Ian Rapoport. Charles Barkley spoke on several topics and even got an appreciation for his golfing abilities. One of the topics that was raised by the co-host Steve Wyche was regarding the possibility of an 18-team NFL season and its effects. Barkley finds the situation disgusting regarding the load management in the NBA for the following reasons. ‘

He feels playing in the NBA is easier than playing baseball or football. His reasoning was simple, football has more physical contact while in baseball, players have to stand out there in the sun for 3 to 4 hours a day, 162 games a year. Plus, he feels it’s a disservice on multiple levels.

“It’s not fair to the fans. It’s not fair to the game. Guys before me not even myself, these guys did not make any money, they did not fly first class.” While he doesn’t hate current players minting money, he wants them not to complain about playing basketball four days a week.

And this was not the first time where Charles Barkley disliked load management in the NBA. But what is his condition for accepting it for the NFL players?

Charles Barkley is open to Load Management in the NFL as opposed to the NBA

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, 2 months ago hinted at the 18-game season for the teams. “Seventeen games is a long season, so we want to make sure we look at that and make sure that we continue the safety efforts.” Charles Barkley too reiterated the same point, “So football is a grown-man sport, you have to be tough.“

Charles Barkley listed his condition for the load management, “They gotta have at least two by weeks and they cannot be playing those games on Thursday nights, that’s just too hard on those guys bodies.” Because he feels the NBA is easier on the body than the NFL, so load management would be acceptable. 

Previously, Chuck had said, “I am disappointed in these guys today with this load management. I said, ‘Yo man, first of all, we’re not teachers, we’re not nurses, we’re not in the service…we play a stupid basketball game for three or four days a week. ‘” Charles Barkley has once again disliked the idea of Load Management in the NBA.

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