Inside the NBA is a popular show amongst the fans of the sport. The reason? It’s the chemistry between the hosts- Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, Shaquille O’Neal, and Ernie Johnson. The banter becomes a conversation between friends, and one cannot help but be engaged in the discussion. Barkley’s recent critique of Dwyane Wade’s statue, calling it “ugly” and “awful,” comes to mind. However, things took a humorous turn recently when Barkley, famous for being outspoken, came under fire himself.
If you’ve been watching Inside the NBA lately, you know Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley love messing with each other. Their latest round of jokes came after Barkley showed up rocking some huge glasses. Kenny couldn’t help himself and cracked, “Man, those things look like two 20-inch TVs!” The whole studio lost it, and fans at home did too. Kenny wasn’t done, though. He jumped on Instagram, shared a selfie with Barkley, and wrote, “Please take off those glasses.”
But today, things took a different turn from their usual antics. Instead of another joke, Kenny shared a post for his sister’s birthday. He posted an old photo of them together, with her in a graduation gown. While the details surrounding it are not known, his caption was short and sweet: “Happy Birthday sis! @gwentaylor777.”
May 20, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; TNT television personality Kenny Smith prior to game one of the Eastern Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs between the Atlanta Hawks and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Unlike her brother, Kenny’s sister mostly stays out of the spotlight. She shares little moments with family now and then, but that’s about it. Even so, it’s obvious they’re close. His post wasn’t flashy—just a simple way to show his love. Kenny is known for his jokes, but this moment showed another side of him. Between the laughs and the teasing, family still comes first.
How Kenny Smith roasted Charles Barkley over San Francisco comments
Charles Barkley has never been shy about his dislike for San Francisco. Just days before this year’s All-Star Weekend, he reignited the debate, calling it a “rat-infested place.” But his Inside the NBA co-host, Kenny Smith, had the perfect response. During an interview with KRON4’s Erin Wilson, Smith was asked how San Francisco could win Barkley over.
His answer? They shouldn’t even bother. “First of all, don’t try to win over Charles Barkley,” Smith said. Then, he went for the kill. “The guy’s from Leeds, Alabama. No one’s even heard of Leeds! How can you evaluate a city when no one’s heard of your city?” Barkley’s comments didn’t sit well with San Francisco fans.
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 he appeared on TNT Tip-Off, the crowd booed him relentlessly—even when he defended himself. “See, I said, ‘Help the homeless,’ and some of these people are so stupid they boo,” Barkley said. To extend an olive branch, Barkley pledged $250,000 to GLIDE, a local nonprofit dedicated to fighting poverty and homelessness. He even insisted, “I actually like San Francisco, I really do.”
But after years of criticism, one donation may not be enough to change the city’s perception of him. However, one thing we can say for sure- the donation was an honorable move on Barkley’s part. It shows that despite his sometimes hard words, he has empathy in his heart.
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