Charles Barkley played in the NBA for 16 years and has been covering the league as an analyst for almost 25 years since. He knows in depth what goes on in the league as well as the various storylines that develop. But something that transpired with Boston Celtics superstars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown has him worried.
The Hall of Famer was a guest on The Bill Simmons Podcast. While discussing the Boston Celtics and their chances next season, Barkley said:
The one thing the NBA did screwing up was pissing off Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. I think, Jaylen being left off the Olympic team and Jayson not playing. They were already terrific players already. They are the defending champs, that’s going to take their confidence to a different level.
Charles Barkley on The Bill Simmons Podcast
To this host, Bill Simmons and Barkley both agreed that this entire situation would give the two stars a chip on their shoulders. Barkley feels the NBA did it purposefully, and this will invariably have ripple effects on the season.
For one, last season’s NBA Finals was a yawn-inducing affair. Throughout the playoffs, fans and analysts thought that the Boston Celtics did not face a healthy strong contender. The likes of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum tried to dismiss it. But television ratings portrayed what fans felt. The super team that was the Boston Celtics coasted to an NBA title.
Not a good show of competition when the league is about to start its next major media rights deal. By pissing them off, as Charles Barkley would place it, the NBA has ignited the fire inside the two superstars to prove to the world that they belong. If anything, this will push them to deal with the increased competition coming up next season.
Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum will have to fight through better competition next season
This NBA off-season has proved to everyone that the Eastern Conference will be a hotly contested affair. The Boston Celtics managed to retain almost all of their stars and also add a young gun through the draft. But they will have to face some incredible teams.
To start, they will face the Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks, and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Those teams have played enough together to know their strengths and weaknesses. This season, health permitting, they can exploit that to the fullest.
Then there will be the retooled New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers. Teams favored to overtake the Celtics in their quest to win an NBA title. The fight to the NBA finals will not be easy. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum might as well keep that fire burning.
In case you missed:
