Charles Barkley and the entire "Inside the NBA" team are known for their outspoken nature. The off-script and often random moments of humor between the four hosts have made for some of the best television moments of all time.
Barkley and the crew will be ending the show's run on TNT after the conclusion of the NBA Playoffs, but the former NBA legend has found himself at the center of some controversy after a remark about a certain player.
During coverage of the Western Conference Finals, Barkley referenced Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
"Is his real name Nickeil?," Barkley asked, genuinely confused.
“Boy, somebody just made up some stuff again. Nickeil is not a name. They named him after a coin—they just spelled it wrong."
https://t.co/1LA0mLgLLI pic.twitter.com/PtZ5nsuXGK
— CJ Fogler 🫡 (@cjzero) May 22, 2025
Some fans laughed at the remark and noted that it was more of Barkley's typical humor, but others found it to be in poor taste.
"This is why no player in the NBA likes TNT. All they do is bash the players," one fan said.
"Not to be that guy, but if your literal job is to be an NBA analyst shouldn't you know/know how to pronounce NBA players' names....?," asked another fan.
"Put some respect on our guy!," said one Virginia Tech fan, noting that Alexander-Walker played college basketball at the school.
After the comment, a reporter asked Alexander-Walker if he had seen it, and the Timberwolves player reacted.
Will Charles Barkley know your name now?
— Nadine Babu (@NadineBabu) May 27, 2025
Nickeil Alexander-Walker: You know a lot of people say that, at least now he’s going to know how to pronounce your name, but as long as my family know how to say it and the people I love know how to say it…at this point in time I could… https://t.co/khYkyM7iVj pic.twitter.com/IgIJBroMxR
"You know a lot of people say that, at least now he’s going to know how to pronounce your name, but as long as my family know how to say it and the people I love know how to say it… at this point in time I could care less, I just want to win," he said this week.
Unfortunately for Alexander-Walker and the Timberwolves, their season came to an end at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder - led by Alexander-Walker's cousin and league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - defeated Minnesota in five games to advance to the NBA Finals.
The Thunder now await the winner of the Eastern Conference Finals, where the Indiana Pacers currently hold a 3-1 lead over the New York Knicks.
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