NBA Hall of Fame member Charles Barkley took issue with how basketball players attempt to look stylish when they fall to the ground. The former MVP of the league insisted that players not try to break their fall and risk breaking their hand or wrist.
Barkley was referring specifically to New Orleans Pelicans player Zion Williamson, who injured his wrist after attempting to break his fall in a game against the Sacramento Kings.
“Do not catch yourself, man,” Barkley said while reviewing the footage on “NBA on TNT.”
“I hate when players do that, fall on your ass or something,” he continued.
“You’re not a stunt man,” NBA legend and cohost Kenny Smith retorted.
“Actually we did practice that when I was playing for the [Phoenix] Suns,” Barkley explained.
“You did not practice that!” Smith replied.
“Yes, we did!” Barkley insisted.
Always one to find a reason to laugh at or make fun of his friend, cohost Shaquille O’Neal jumped in. “Show us,” the four-time NBA champion demanded. “Show me right now, fall on your ass right now.”
Barkley, a 61-year-old who was over 250 pounds when he was an NBA player, immediately decided he would take O’Neal up on his challenge.
“No! Seriously! When you’re falling, when guys fall they try to —” Barkley said as he demonstrated how players attempt to push themselves with their hands.
“You just do that!” the 6’6″ former forward said as he plummeted to the ground. “You don’t do that! You don’t try to catch yourself!”
“Do it again, Chuck,” Shaq egged him on.
“I’m telling you, guys at home, don’t be stupid,” Barkley went on as he continued his lesson plan.
“Your body is too much, it’s got too much force. You’re going to break your finger or your wrist.”
Shaq immediately asked his producers for a slow-motion instant replay of Barkley’s fall “100 times.”
“Slow motion … fall on that ass, America!” O’Neal insisted as Barkley fell in slow motion.
“Get your arms up!” Barkley insisted. “You don’t have to worry about your head, get your arms up, you won’t hurt your hard-ass head, Shaq.”
The crew agreed that would be a tough act to follow for Smith, who then pretend to fall on a set of steps before reviewing a highlight package.
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