Charles Barkley is television gold, and that’s the main reason he’s an NBA analyst being asked to cover the NCAA tournament.
During the first weekend of the NCAA tournament, we watch Jabari Parker of Duke and Andrew Wiggins of Kansas struggle mightily on national television.
Even though both are likely to be selected among the first two picks in the NBA Draft, Barkley thinks both young men would be best served staying at their respective universities.
Barkley reiterated his opinion Sunday after watching Kansas lose to Stanford, and said that both “Wiggins and Parker aren’t ready to play against grown men.”
“I want these kids to stay in school longer because the NBA is worse than it’s ever been,” Barkley said. “It’s not good basketball. It’s frustrating for me to watch. These kids aren’t physically or emotionally ready to come and play against grown men.”
“Jabari Parker and Andrew Wiggins are supposed to be top-3 draft picks,” he continued. “They didn’t have very good games — and it’s just one game — but if they’re going to struggle against Mercer and Stanford, they’re really gonna struggle against grown men.”