Charles Barkley stepped in publicly to say sorry to Denver Nuggets fans and trash TNT’s mistake when the network did not include reigning NBA Finals MVP Nikola Jokic in its advertisements for NBA tipoff on Tuesday night.
“I want to apologize to the Nuggets, the state of Colorado,” Barkley told Moser, Lombardi and Kane on Altitude Sports Radio on Tuesday. “That was total B.S. on our part. For us to have an opening [graphic] and not put the Joker on it, that was just stupidity on TNT’s part.”
Barkley also shared that he sent the original post to Inside the NBA anchor and partner in crime Ernie Johnson and TNT producers to reinforce how big a mistake he thinks it was.
“Not only is it stupidity not to put Joker on there, but also we’re actually coming to Denver to start the season,” Barkley explained. “That makes it even worse.”
Not every NBA superstar, even a reigning Finals MVP, would get Barkley’s defense. But Barkley and the Inside the NBA crew have come to love Jokic dearly during his rise to NBA dominance.
Their bond was on full display during last year’s NBA Finals.
And Barkley has gone out of his way to praise the beauty of Jokic’s game, comparing him to everyone from Tim Duncan to Magic Johnson in recent months.
Jokic and the Nuggets will celebrate their championship with a ring ceremony on Tuesday night before they tip off the NBA season with a matchup at home against the Lakers.
Barkley, Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith will be there live to ring in the moment. And Barkley will atone for TNT’s miscue.
About Brendon Kleen
Brendon is a Media Commentary staff writer at Awful Announcing. He has also covered basketball and sports business at Front Office Sports, SB Nation, Uproxx and more.