The Bill Simmons Podcast Charles Barkley on Skinny Luka, the Eagles, LeBron, Jokic, Josh Allen, and His Uneasy ESPN Partnership
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Sep 2, 2025 
Charles Barkley, former NBA star and vibrant analyst, shares his bold NFL predictions and discusses the Eagles' team dynamics. He dives into the ongoing debate over the best NBA players, comparing current stars with legends. Barkley also addresses his unique partnership with ESPN and the pressures of sports broadcasting. With his characteristic insight, he reflects on how free agency impacts player performance and the evolving landscape of competitive spirit in basketball.
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Career-Altering Philly Trade
- Charles Barkley recounts Philly trading the number one pick and Moses Malone for poor returns that derailed the Sixers.
- He says that trade forced him to spend four brutal years in Philly without title contention.
Second Apron Is Player-Created Problem
- Barkley argues the league made the second apron because players willingly cluster to form superteams.
- He says rule-makers respond to players choosing to play together, not vice versa.
Shocking Trade The Night Before Flight
- Barkley describes asking out of Philadelphia, getting acquitted in Milwaukee, then finding golf clubs at his door and being traded to Phoenix overnight.
- He framed the trade as a relief after years of rumors and uncertainty.