There’s one NBA legend who will always stand up for college athletes and that’s Charles Barkley. He has been blunt on this issue several times before and is doing it again. However, while talking about the dire state of collegiate athletes, Barkley admits he doesn’t know the solution either. He, nonetheless, wished that the ones in charge would stop making the situation worse.

During his recent appearance on SI Media with Jimmy Traina, Barkley once again brought up the sorry state of college sports. He echoed what he said recently while also worrying about athletes in sports other than football and basketball.

Charles Barkley slams those ruining college athletics

Before he was NBA’s ‘The Round Mound of Rebound,’ Charles Barkley was a student-athlete hoping to build a better life for himself and his family. He’s admitted in the past to taking money under the table from sports agents. His own experiences are why he wants better conditions for college athletes.

While on the Sports Illustrated Media podcast, Barkley mourned how society as a whole has ruined college sports. “How did we become so bad as a society that we’re actually ruining college sports- one of the greatest way for most people in the world to get a free education.”

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Barkley was speaking about NIL deals. But he brought up that athletes are seeking such deals because college athletes are in unfair situations. And he blames the “grown folks” in charge for the circumstances.

Barkley admitted to Traina that he doesn’t know how to solve the problem and he hates that. “I don’t know how you put the toothpaste back into the tube,” he figuratively said.

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According to Barkley, college sports are making money, but the college athletes are not. So, once they do make money, through NIL deals and such, there’s no going back. “These kids are never going to go back with playing for free,” and he hopes they make a lot of money.

Barkley worries for other athletes

‘Sir Charles’ called the state of college basketball a “travesty” and “disgrace” recently because these young athletes aren’t getting paid for all the money they make. He, nonetheless, sees basketball and football athletes have better chances at money-making opportunities. But there are other college athletes who don’t get the same recognition and opportunities.

“What’s going to happen to all these women’s sports?” He said as outstanding female basketball players like Angel Reese and Caitlin Clarke will not have better earning opportunities until after college.

There are other sports that don’t get talked about in mainstream sports too. “There’s gonna be ramifications, like, softball, baseball, tennis, lacrosse, soccer. It’s because those sports ain’t making no money. They’re not making any money and their star players ain’t gonna get NIL deals.” 

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It’s for multiple reasons that Barkley believes college sports are in trouble. And while he doesn’t have the solution, he hopes someone will resolve it. Do you also agree with Barkley on this issue? Share your views in the comments!