Charles Barkley is an NBA legend, but he’s been vocal about his passion for hockey. Ahead of Tuesday’s Game 6, Chuck served as a rinkside reporter for TNT during warmups, and he had everyone laughing as he talked about how much he hates one particular Florida Panthers player.
Barkley, a true basketball icon who played in 11 NBA All-Star Games, is now a beloved analyst for TNT. But over the years, he’s picked up another hobby: hockey. He’s a passionate fan of the sport and often appears on NHL on TNT to share his unfiltered takes.
Ahead of the high-stakes Game 6 in Florida—where the Panthers were looking to clinch back-to-back Stanley Cup championships—Barkley returned to NHL on TNT, this time as a rinkside reporter. He took his spot between the benches during warmups to talk about his love for the game and his thoughts on the matchup. Most of all, Barkley expressed how badly he wanted to see a Game 7. But he also got plenty of laughs with an unexpected rant about one player on the ice.
Charles Barkley’s hilarious words
Earlier in the series, Barkley raised eyebrows when he said how much he hates star defenseman Seth Jones. And ahead of Tuesday’s game, he doubled down.
“Well, number one, you know I hate Seth Jones,” Barkley said.
But the hatred isn’t without context. Seth’s father is Popeye Jones, a former NBA player who apparently haunted Barkley during his playing days.
“His dad is the only player and man I played against who kicked my ass every single time. To this day, I have no idea why. So I’m directing my hatred toward Seth Jones for his dad, Popeye.”
Still, Barkley gave credit where it was due.
“It’s great for hockey, and great for young Black kids to see a guy like that. I just hate him because of his dad—I’m not gonna lie.”
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