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Earlier this week, Draymond Green made headlines by criticizing the twilight of Charles Barkley’s Hall of Fame career.
Appearing in the studio during Wednesday’s edition of “Inside the NBA,” Green pointed to Barkley’s four-year stint with the Houston Rockets.
“I think the goal is just not to look like you in the Houston Rockets uniform,” a follow-up to Barkley’s suggestion that the Golden State Warriors — Green’s team — are well past their championship window. Days later, as the controversy grew, Green clarified his remarks about Barkley.
“The reason I’d even say that’s what Chuck is making fun of in his career is actually the last 2 years in Houston,” Green said on the latest edition of “The Draymond Green Show.”
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Green added: “Everybody tried to make it like this, ‘Ahh man, Draymond thinks he’s better than Chuck’… disrespect is not the intent, so if that’s the way it’s perceived as public disrespect, I’m happy to publicly apologize, disrespect was not my intent.”
Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors reacts during a game against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Mich., on Jan. 9, 2025. (Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
Barkley suggested Green should leave the only franchise he’s ever played for in order to have a chance at a fifth championship given the age of Golden State’s core.
“It’s over for the Warriors,” Barkley said on May 6. “No disrespect. It’s for all old teams. You have your run, you get old … it just passed you by. You all had one of the best runs ever.”
Barkley waited a few days to address Green’s comments, telling the “Bickley and Marotta” radio show on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM: “Draymond’s a good player. We’re not on the same level … I can hear, but I don’t have to respond every time somebody says something about me.”
During a series of media interviews, Barkley continued to dismiss Green’s remarks, saying he was not offended by the criticism.
Former NBA player and Auburn alum Charles Barkley walks into Neville Arena through the loading dock before a game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Auburn Tigers in Auburn, Ala., on Feb. 4, 2025. (Stew Milne/Getty Images)
“He took a shot at me, but I’m not offended because — I’ve said things about guys, they took personal shots at me,” Barkley said on “The Dan Patrick Show,” adding, “You know, it’s so funny, the last time you had me on the show, I told you I regretted the Rocket years, especially the last two when I sucked as a player, but I didn’t have two years left on my contract.”
Former Phoenix Suns player Charles Barkley attends an NBA Cup game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Ariz., on Nov. 21, 2025. (Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)
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Barkley joined the Rockets in the 1996-97 season after the Phoenix Suns traded him to Houston. He retired from the NBA at the age of 36. Green turned 36 in March, while his longtime teammate and two-time NBA MVP Stephen Curry turned 38 just months ago.
Barkley’s 16-year NBA career ended in 2000 with career averages of 22.1 points and 11.7 rebounds.
