As the Inside the NBA cast has aged into uncle status for the league’s players, Charles Barkley and Co. have occasionally clashed with today’s stars. The negativity on TNT’s iconic studio show has, for some, escalated to a level that contributes to the NBA’s perception problem in recent seasons. The prevailing thought is that when Inside criticizes the league and its players in front of millions, it supports the notion that the NBA product is poor or unworthy of viewership. Indeed, Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal often take aim at everything, from the style of play to the mentality of top stars, including topics like load management and player availability.
After Colin Cowherd expressed support for Inside earlier in his show on Tuesday, he posed a question to Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch about whether Barkley “bothered” players. Finch, who has nearly two decades of coaching experience in the NBA, denied this: “I don’t think so, no. I would say most people thoroughly enjoy that show for what it is,” Finch explained on The Herd. “It’s part of the fabric of the NBA. It’s irreverent, it’s entertaining. They should have a disclaimer, ‘for entertainment purposes only.’ It’s baked into our league, and we love that.”
Even regarding a player like Rudy Gobert, whom Finch coaches and who has directly clashed with TNT Sports personalities, including fill-in host Draymond Green, Finch believes it’s all in good fun, suggesting it adds competitive spice to the league. “There are some things here and there I think it’s gotten a little personal, it’s had a little spice,” Finch noted. “No one’s overly bothered by it.”
While Finch’s perspective is not universal, as stars like Kevin Durant have had confrontations with Barkley over the years and Dwight Howard maintained a long-standing feud with O’Neal, most athletes possess thick skin by the time they reach the pros. Finch’s comments imply that an NBA star can filter out the commentary from Inside, even if a personality like Charles Barkley occasionally crosses a line.
