(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The NBA is officially on it’s All-Star Break.
There will not be any regular season games until February 22nd, allowing players to rest, hoping to be refreshed for the back half of the year.
While most players are getting a break, it is business as usual for the TNT crew of analysts, which includes Charles Barkley.
Barkley and his team talked about the current state of the NBA, and what a lot of young players are doing.
He encouraged them to not necessarily think about money when they are 18 or 19 years old, and focus on fundamentals before they consider entering the NBA.
“Go to college for a year or two, get in a stable environment, get some good coaching,” Barkley said.
“I wish a lot of these kids would learn their lessons. Just because your family and friends are freeloaders trying to get to your bank account, you don’t have to leave school early.” – Charles Barkley pic.twitter.com/9VOf2vwam6
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 16, 2024
While this comment might be received poorly by some, Barkley was ready to double down on his stance, providing additional insight into this take.
“A lot of times, you’re just not ready, mentally or physically,” Barkley said.
The NBA is a completely different game than high school, the G League, or NCAA basketball.
While some players can dominate right out of the gate, for many athletes, it takes time.
This is a time to grow and develop, and to make sure that they are taking the right steps for success.
Otherwise, if players enter the league too early and are not ready, their careers can be over before they start.
First impressions are important in the NBA, too.
If players start their careers poorly, it can be difficult for them to be given more chances in the future.
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