Charles Barkley Says Warriors Play “Girly” Basketball, Twitter Responds

Former NBA star Charles Barkley was roasted on Twitter on Friday after saying that he doesn’t respect the Golden State Warriors because they play “girly” basketball.

The analyst was speaking with co-stars Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson Jr. on TNT’s “Inside the NBA,” when the controversial quote arose during a discussion about the best teams on the west coast.

Charles’s co-stars called him out for not respecting the Warriors, to which he responded: “Maybe I’m old school, but I’m never gonna like that little, girly basketball where you have to outscore people… I’m biased against girl basketball,” adding, “I love women’s college basketball, but I don’t want it in the NBA.”

thankful for @Rachel__Nichols pic.twitter.com/Hz556EghBq

— Becca Laurie, PI (@imbeccable) December 2, 2016

Is having more points than your opponent not how you win a game of basketball? Confusing logic aside, Charles putting down the team by equating them to girls is not only sexist, but dangerous to those watching at home.

How is a young girl supposed to feel if someone she looks up to is saying she’s not as good simply because of her sex? How will this cycle of seeing women as lesser-than ever change if boys grow up hearing things like this from mentors?

Well, Rachel Nichols, host of ESPN’s “The Jump,” was not about to stand for it, quickly calling out pal Charles on her show. And already seeing the criticism she would receive online, Rachel clarified that she was not offended, but felt the need to call him out on it because “words matter.” 

.@Rachel__Nichols explained it perfectly. Words matter. https://t.co/femakUd5XD

— Shannon Lane (@ShannonLaneNU) December 2, 2016

I like Charles Barkley. I’d also like to never again hear a man use “girly” as an insult. https://t.co/wht19hrgoL

— Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) December 2, 2016

it’s just disrespectful… https://t.co/Rkzw8qJ2Jt

— Make That Old. (@kylaajoness) December 2, 2016

“This is just about girls out there who love watching Chuck (Charles) talk about basketball as much as I do who shouldn’t have to grow up feeling that they are the living, human, stand-in definition for being ‘less than’ or ‘weak.’ And, frankly, young boys shouldn’t feel that way, either,” she explained.

But Rachel was not the only one who felt Charles needed to be put in his place. Fans took to Twitter to share their frustrations, with one posting, “I like Charles Barkley. I’d also like to never again hear a man use “girly” as an insult.”

And THIS is WHY Education Matters It starts with MEN & WOMEN working 2gether Unlearn ya bias @MARCmovement @WXN @USWomen2016 @GoodMenProject https://t.co/VmJf0XuQKp

— Matrix Search Group (@MatrixSearch) December 2, 2016

Okay dudes, Barkley’s comments were not free reign to jokingly call everything girly. Maybe just stop using girly as an insult? ?

— Sami Higgins (@samihiggins) December 2, 2016

So I did a little research to help Charles Barkley after he called the Warriors “little girly basketball” https://t.co/iyfpfDwZrm pic.twitter.com/9o1Ty9873W

— Dane Carbaugh (@danecarbaugh) December 2, 2016

Others got to the heart of what Charles had meant – that the Warriors focus more on offense than defense – pointing out that sexism aside, the former basketball player still wasn’t quite right. The team is ranked eighth in the NBA for defensive efficiency.

Another insisted, “And THIS is WHY Education Matters It starts with MEN & WOMEN working 2gether Unlearn ya bias.”