Barkley Defends Comments On LeBron As His "Honest Opinion"

TNT’s Charles Barkley last night defended his previous criticism of Cavaliers F LeBron James and responded to James' latest salvo, saying, “I have no problem with what LeBron said. ... I did some stupid things in my life. That does not make my argument less valid. … My argument with LeBron was strictly basketball-related." Barkley continued, “I have never said anything personal about a guy and I'm never going to, ever.”

Barkley said of his relationship with James, “We do not have to be friends. I'm not friends with most of these young guys. But that being said, that does not mean that we have to say positive stuff about them all the time. I do understand they are really sensitive, today's players. … Anybody that thinks my comments were unfair, I don't think they're unfair. ... Our job is to give our honest opinion. Sometimes people get mad and that's okay” (“NBA Tip-Off,” TNT, 2/2).