Every time something big happens in the NBA, expect basketball and TV legend Charles Barkley to have a brutally honest reaction.
Following the events of the Joel Embiid-Karl Anthony Towns mano a mano in Philly, the Krispy Kreme-loving studio analyst was asked about it on Inside the NBA. Barkley was quick to cut off co-host Ernie Johnson, who called the brush a "fight," and described the All-Star centers as "lovers, not fighters."
The 56-year-old Hall of Famer even compared the confrontation to a "snuggle party."
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Drawing laughs on the set, Barkley explained, "How can you call something a fight if there were no punches thrown? Come on, man. These guys are lovers. Stop it."
It appeared that he was turning serious when he pointed out that such physical encounters can lead to being black and blue, until he added, "Somebody could actually get hurt if they were actually fighting."
Unlike the Barkley and the Inside guys, though, the league was in no laughing mood and reportedly slapped Embiid and Towns each with a two-game suspension without pay for the snuggle fest that got both of them ejected. The Philadelphia 76ers (4-0) went on to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves (3-1), 117-95.
The Round Mound of Rebound is no stranger to actual fights. The footage of his on-court brouhaha with co-host Shaquille O'Neal when he was still with Houston has been shown countless times on TNT. Almost two decades later, he and Shaq would be in stitches over news of police presence being requested after the Clippers-Rockets locker room drama:
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