NBA

Charles Barkley “embarrassed” by NBA Cup

Published

December 17, 2025

February 20, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; NBA great Charles Barkley is honored for being selected to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team during halftime in the 2022 NBA All-Star Game at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

When it comes to the NBA Cup, some fans love it, others aren’t too keen on it. NBA legend Charles Barkley is on the latter side of this topic. He believes having the NBA Cup is embarrassing.

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“I think the [NBA] Cup thing is somewhat embarrassing,” Barkley said. “I’m disappointed that we have to make an in-season tournament to make these guys more money so they won’t do load management.

“But to have to pay these guys extra money to make them play other games. They should play basketball because they’re well-compensated to play basketball. To do an in-season tournament to make them extra money, come on, man. That’s a little bit ridiculous.”

Charles Barkley says the NBA Cup is ‘embarrassing’:

“I’m disappointed that we have to make an in-season tournament to make these guys more money.”

(via TomTolbertShow / YT, h/t @awfulannouncing) pic.twitter.com/MEgSeE9o4l

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) December 16, 2025

Barkley is absolutely correct. The idea of paying players more money just to motivate them to compete harder during the season is laughable. This is why the NBA has lost the casual fan, and may never get them back.

About the Author Published Dec 17, 2025

TITAN FREY

Titan Frey is a dedicated father to three wonderful children, whom he takes immense pride in. His passions include reading, writing, basketball, both playing and watching, and playing chess. Titan spent five years working as a journalist for the basketball website fadeawayworld.net, where he served as editor-in-chief for four and a half years. One of his most notable achievements was interviewing Chuck Cooper III, the son of Chuck Cooper, the first African American ever drafted by an NBA team, and writing a biography that has been praised as the most definitive article about Cooper’s legacy. Titan is the author of more than ten novels and the screenwriter of three produced short films. His newest young adult novel, Echoes of the Hardwood: Braxton Foxworthy’s Time‑Travelling Book Report, blends basketball history with heartfelt storytelling and is now available. Order here: https://a.co/d/bo7BYz1