LeBron James Blasts Charles Barkley: "He's Stupid"

CLEVELAND — LeBron James reacted strongly to Charles Barkley's comments that the Cavaliers star isn't showing respect for Cleveland fans and his teammates by discussing his possible free agency following the 2010 season.

"He's stupid. That's all I've got to say about that," James said Friday night before the Cavaliers' game against Golden State.

Barkley made the comments on TNT's NBA studio show and Dan Patrick's radio show.

"If I was LeBron James, I would shut the hell up," the Hall of Famer said on Patrick's show. "I'm a big LeBron fan. He's a stud. You gotta give him his props. I'm getting so annoyed he's talking about what he's going to do in two years. I think it's disrespectful to the game. I think it's disrespectful to the Cavaliers."

James, under contract for two more seasons, was bombarded with questions about his future when the Cavaliers visited New York to play the Knicks on Tuesday night.

The Cavaliers can offer him an extension as early as July 1, 2009. There has long been speculation James will eventually end up in one of the NBA's larger markets and the Knicks have cleared salary-cap space in anticipation of the 2010 free-agent class.

"I think July 1, 2010, is a very big day," James said when the Cavaliers were in New York. "It's probably going to be one of the biggest days in free-agent history in the NBA. So a lot of teams are gearing up to try to prepare themselves to be able to put themselves in position to get one of the big free-agent market guys."

Comments

[Destin]

What a fluid filled bonehead this guys sports, lol. He's one of the reasons I dislike watching US professional sports (aside from Hockey), it's all hype and no talent. And all this crap about "world champions" when they really only win what amounts to a national championship is a big turnoff as well. All the "heroes" are handpicked by the league, and free agency is nothing more than a tool to ensure that the big money markets win the monopoly of the championships and maintain their status quo over the smaller markets by ensuring they get their pick of the best players. That's why you see the same teams year after year after year in the playoffs and championships. And look at the Pats. A small market team that became a big market with a billionaire investor buying the team. And helped by the fact that 2 of their biggest signings were players who "retired" to get out of contracts to be signed by the Pats less than 3 months afterwards to big money, long term contracts. In situations like that, the league should force the players to stay retired, or go back to their old teams.

Anyways, Dunce James might be wildly rich, but he'll never be an adult, or even smart. ;o)

[Sportswoman]

Barkley makes a cogent observation and Lebron seems to have been caught off- guard as his response is defensive. "Stupid" also means goofy in some circles, as in, you just made a joke and the recipient, laughing, says, "Man, you are stupid!" In this case, it's somewhere in between. I shook hands with LeBron when he was a rookie playing in one of Magic's charity games for the UNCF, and he was a very affable youngster, so let's not rush to judgement. Yes he was wrong to speculate, but he got caught up in it. Reporters ingratiate themselves with these kids and they should just walk away or say no comment, but they make nice and give the reporter something to write about, put food on their table. Suddenly, Bad Boy!
Look, pro sports is a different animal from the college game. . Don't blame t players, blame the NBA which makes a mockery of a college education by making them only attend school one year. It was far better when they had to graduate but could apply for hardship. Now I know some top analysts disagree as to the need for college at all, but Kobe is Exhibit A, for very reason from socialization to team concept.
And speaking of, Kobe talked free agency, Shaq , to;, everybody knows LJ's going to be a free agent. Why 's this so stunning? Should he talk about it from a fan's perspective? Probably not. Is he The Devil Incarnate? Not so

[rodnacious]

Where does James state that he is leaving Cleveland... duh! Barkley is the rock!

The Cavaliers can offer him an extension as early as July 1, 2009. There has long been speculation James will eventually end up in one of the NBA's larger markets and the Knicks have cleared salary-cap space in anticipation of the 2010 free-agent class.

"I think July 1, 2010, is a very big day," James said when the Cavaliers were in New York. "It's probably going to be one of the biggest days in free-agent history in the NBA. So a lot of teams are gearing up to try to prepare themselves to be able to put themselves in position to get one of the big free-agent market guys."

[rodnacious]

Charles Barkley is stupid and so is anyone else that interprets LeBron's remarks as an afrimation that he will be eligible for free agency.

The man simply said that the 2010 free agency picture is going to make history - nothing more. Furthermore, Cleveland has had more than enough time to add support players that would enable LeBron to bring a championship to Cleveland; they have not done so. With that in mind, if LeBron left Cleveland it would serve them right.

Barkley... get real!

[gascelebrations]

JINDAL / BARKLEY 2012

"It's not 'coming' . . . it's here"

[rudiy]

Wow People! I like sports but this is only a kids game where people make a lot of money. Not rocket science and will not change world conditions.

[rabiddog6708]

LeBron knows stupid....he stares at stupidity every time he gazes into a mirror. King Charles is a tad soft in the loft at times, but he is Einstein compared to LeBron James, who can dribble a ball far better than he can hold a thought.

[Syddiggers]

" He stupid! "

Wow! Great comeback LeBron. And here I was thinking that Sarah Palin was the greatest debater the world had ever seen!

[BEHM777]

Charles Barkley is right. THIS time.

[MsMcIntosh]

I stopped watching sports a long time ago except when it come to championship games, world series etc. It's not the same. The players I loved to watch have long retired. Those were the players who played the game because of love of the sport. The kids today play for the contracts and the endorsements. These kids today couldnt hold a candle to the old greats. Lebron needs to grow up and show some class.

[AsISaid]

Michael Jordan seemed to do OK playing his career in Chicago, didn't he? He could have opted to go elsewhere, but he stayed loyal. They built a team around him and they clicked. LeBron is good, no doubt, but he doesn't have the game Jordan had. LeBron has a decent team too and could win it all. The Cavaliers have bent over backwards to put a team together to LeBron's satisfaction and approval. They've done everything they can possibly do to make him happy. I've seen James screw up many a game with poor outside shooting and specious defense. Bottom line is: LeBron is no Michael Jordan. For one, I'm sick of the flirtatious comments he makes to the press about New York and I agree he should shut up and play basketball for Cleveland.

[mamadeus]

Thanks. I quit watching pro basketball. I watch college ball. The spirit of the young players to win is
inspiring. Jordan was great as a leader, he knew how to win and gave Chicago and the world a team that was fun to watch. Even Rodman behaved, at least on the court.

[zekeandrick]

Hey folks,
Living in a suburb of Cleveland I have to listen to James' crap EVERY day...he does believe it's about just him, why wouldn't he when there is a building size poster of him right outside of where he plays.

But we're also talking about a guy who sometime ago bought a house for $1 mil, had it torn down, and built another house on the same site...and he calls Barkley stupid!

Two things he NEVER talks about though are his illegitimate children and how he was raised in public housing in Akron by a mother with a record as long as your arm...she got off on assualt charges against police who stopped her for drunk driving, kicking out the windows of the police car, all the while screaming obscenities at the police...she's a real "pillar of society" folks and James works overtime staying away from her.

[ApolloniaCreed]

What does his mother have to do with anything?

[rodnacious]

Got any other words of wisdom that you want to share with us... guess not!

[blkbtrfly1]

Acutually, they're both right. Barkley is stupid; and James is being disrespectful.

[LAShores]

Charles is right. LeBron needs to be professional about this situation. If LeBron wants to opt out and go to the Knicks after his contract is over then fine. But he doesn't need to talk about it until that point. Charles is the first person to probably say something critcial of him and he doesn't know how to take it.

[blooddoc]

Charles Barkley is not the perfect role model, but he's got it all over LeBron. He should hope he has half the sense of Sir Charles when he's that age.