Michael Jordan didn’t really kill more people than the plague, but Charles Barkley seems to believe his unattainable legacy has trampled several NBA careers. Barkley joined The Dan Patrick Show Friday morning to discuss his coverage of the NCAA Tournament for CBS. Before diving into the ongoing feud between LeBron James and Stephen A. Smith, they managed to squeeze in some college basketball talk, including insights on Duke’s Cooper Flagg.
“Who do you see when you look at Cooper Flagg?” Patrick inquired.
“I see Cooper Flagg,” Barkley replied. “He’s a terrific young player; he looks amazing on television, and I can’t wait to see him in the NBA. I hate doing comparisons. To say he’s already someone in the NBA is unfair to that player.” Barkley emphasized that comparisons can do a disservice to many young talents, asserting, “It’s like saying Michael Jordan has killed more people than the plague. Just because you say, ‘this guy is the next Michael Jordan’ doesn’t mean he will be.”
Letting college athletes or prospects develop without the burden of living up to someone else’s legacy is important. However, comparisons are often the simplest way to convey a player’s skill set to casual fans. While it can be entertaining to draw parallels between a prospect and a pro, the sensationalism in declaring someone the “next Jordan” is undeniable. Yet, how many players genuinely had their careers hindered because they were labeled as such? The list may not be as extensive as Barkley suggested. Regardless of whether Flagg is compared to Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Larry Bird, Jayson Tatum, or Kevin Garnett, he will face tremendous expectations as he enters the NBA.
