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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 studio on Wednesday’s edition of “Inside the NBA,” Green highlighted Barkley’s four-year stint with the Houston Rockets.
“I think the goal is just to not look like you in a Houston Rockets uniform,” a follow-up to Barkley’s suggestion that the Golden State Warriors — Green’s team — are well past their championship window. A few days later, as controversy mounted, Green clarified his remarks about Barkley.
“The reason I would even say that’s what Chuck makes fun of in his career is actually the last two years in Houston,” Green said on the latest edition of “The Draymond Green Show.”
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Green added: “Everyone tried to make this whole thing seem like this ‘Ahh man, Draymond thinks he’s better than Chuck’…disrespect is not the intention, so if that’s how it comes across as public disrespect, I can happily apologize publicly, disrespect was not my intention.”
Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors reacts during a game against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan on January 9, 2025. (Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
Barkley suggested Green would have to leave the only franchise he played for 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. This is for all the old teams. You have your journey, you get older…it gets out of hand. You all have been through one of the greatest journeys of all time.”
Barkley waited a few days to respond to Green’s comments, telling the “Bickley and Marotta” radio show on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM: “Draymond is a good player. We’re not on the same level…I hear, but I don’t have to respond every time someone 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 enters Neville Arena through the loading dock before a game between the Oklahoma Sooners and Auburn Tigers in Auburn, Alabama on February 4, 2025. (Stew Milne/Getty Images)
“He took a shot at me, but I’m not offended because – I said things about the guys, they took a shot at me personally,” 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 that I missed those years with Rocket, especially the last two where I was terrible as a player. But I wasn’t turning down free money, I had two left years 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, Arizona on November 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 age 36. Green turned 36 in March, while longtime teammate and two-time NBA MVP Stephen Curry turned 38 just under months ago.
Barkley’s 16-year NBA career ended in 2000 with career averages of 22.1 points and 11.7 rebounds.
