Charles Barkley blasts new, lighter NBA schedule: 'These poor babies can't play back-to-back games'

pulse

September 21, 2017 2:19 PM

Charles Barkley said that the NBA "caved in" and gave players a lighter schedule, despite high salaries and luxury travel.

Charles Barkley is apparently not a fan of the new, lighter NBA schedule that reduces travel, back-to-back games, and four-games-in-five-nights stretches this season.

Speaking from an athletic forum at SMU, Barkley said he is "so angry at the NBA" for creating a lighter schedule for its players to try and promote rest and reduce wear-and-tear.

"These poor babies can't play back-to-back games," Barkley said. "They're making $20-, $30-, $40 million a year. But we want to make it convenient for them. At $40 million a year, we can't stress 'em out."

Barkley added, "The private jets and four-star hotels aren't enough."

Barkley continued, saying he thinks it's a "travesty" that the NBA did not force its players to play in back-to-back games, given the size of their salaries.

"We flew commercial and we were able to play back-to-back, back-to-back," Barkley said. "I've [talked] with older guys who took trains to play three days in a row. The NBA caved in."

As many have noted, Barkley played less than 70 games in the final seven seasons of his career, and three times played fewer than 60 games. Perhaps a more health-conscious schedule and league could have preserved his career.

Watch some of Barkley's answer below:

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