Charles Barkley wasted no time stirring up conversation during his first night on ESPN. The Hall of Famer and Inside the NBA analyst blasted the Dallas Mavericks for how they are using rookie forward Cooper Flagg, arguing that the team is “trying to reinvent the wheel” by playing him at point guard.
At halftime of the Mavericks’ game against the San Antonio Spurs, Barkley made it clear that Dallas is not setting its young star up for success. He said Flagg should be getting the ball in space rather than focusing on creating for others. Barkley added that the Mavericks should start D’Angelo Russell at point guard so Flagg can focus on scoring.
Flagg, the top overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, has shown flashes of potential in preseason games. Still, the Mavericks’ experiment with him as a primary ballhandler has caused a few to scratch their heads. Barkley was direct in his assessment, saying the plan limits what makes Flagg special. At the half, Flagg had zero points.
Inside the NBA Returns on ESPN
The Inside the NBA crew reunited Wednesday night for their debut broadcast on ESPN, The Washington Post reports. The familiar lineup of Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, and host Ernie Johnson returned for the network’s opening-night doubleheader, which featured the Cleveland Cavaliers facing the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs taking on the Dallas Mavericks.
The show began with laughter and light-hearted banter, Per Yahoo. Barkley’s weight loss quickly became a topic among his cohosts, as did their highly publicized move from TNT to ESPN. Barkley took a moment to praise his new home, calling ESPN “the greatest sports network ever” and saying it was “an honor and a privilege” to be there.
Smith, never one to miss a punchline, handed Barkley a napkin and asked if he needed it “for all that kissing up.” The playful exchange set the tone for the night.
Barkley also admitted that the transition made him nervous. “I was nervous all day,” he told the audience. Johnson then rolled clips of Barkley’s previous interviews on shows such as The Dan Patrick Show, where he had voiced skepticism about joining ESPN. The mix of honesty and humor reminded fans why the quartet remains one of the most beloved groups in sports television.
Barkley Sounds Off on Cooper Flagg
At halftime of the Spurs-Mavericks matchup, Barkley shifted from jokes to analysis. He said Dallas was making a mistake by forcing Flagg to play out of position.
Kenny Smith agreed, noting that as a former point guard, he wouldn’t want Flagg taking on that role. Smith explained that the responsibilities of a floor general require a mindset that doesn’t fit Flagg’s natural strengths. He said the rookie should be focused on scoring and attacking rather than distributing the ball.
Barkley then expanded on his argument, saying Flagg should not be trying to pass to teammates who are less effective than he is. He urged that the rookie should only be passing to Anthony Davis and that everyone else on the floor should be looking to get the ball to Flagg.
The moment felt like a throwback to the show’s TNT days, with Barkley’s fiery takes driving discussion and Smith providing thoughtful counterpoints.
Eariler in the night, the crew revived one of their old traditions when Smith and O’Neal raced to the big screen behind them to break down plays. This time, they toned it down to a power walk instead of a sprint, with Smith winning as usual. “We’re on ESPN now,” Smith joked. “We’re trying to do things easy.”
Even with a new studio and network, Charles Barkley proved that his candor hasn’t changed. His sharp criticism of Dallas and Cooper Flagg’s role showed that the Inside the NBA crew remains as entertaining and opinionated as ever.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Charles Barkley Torches Mavericks Over Cooper Flagg’s Point Guard Role appeared first on Heavy Sports.