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Charles Barkley has never been afraid to speak his mind, but he admits that today’s athletes face a very different challenge than he did during his playing career: social media.
“The social media aspect has changed everything because their family members are tweeting bad stuff about you and then all their followers jump in,” Barkley said during his recent appearance on The Kittle Things. “I never take criticisms personally because like when they call me out explaining why I said it to them, they might get mad for a second. I said, ‘Dude, just because one of your followers took it personally, don’t overreact.’”
Barkley explained that online negativity doesn’t just target players, it often extends to their loved ones. That constant exposure, he believes, can be overwhelming and damaging if athletes don’t learn how to filter it.
The Hall of Famer credited his mentor Julius Erving with teaching him how to process criticism.
“Dr. J gave me a great lesson back when I first started,” Barkley said. “He said ‘Remember one thing, is the criticism fair?’ That’s the first thing you have to ask yourself. Is the criticism fair? Some guys are going to take shots at you just to get clicks now.”
During his time with the Philadelphia 76ers, Barkley endured harsh criticism about his weight, performance, and off-court behavior. He admitted that there were moments when he wanted to fight back but said Erving’s advice gave him perspective and helped him focus on growth rather than anger.
Barkley has carried that philosophy into his broadcasting career on Inside the NBA, where jokes about his ringless career are constant. Instead of taking offense, he laughs it off. To him, it’s about acknowledging what’s true while not letting negativity derail him.
While Barkley warns that social media “has the potential to ruin a lot of athletes’ lives,” he also sees it as a tool for motivation and self-expression if handled wisely.
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