"We're raising a generation of dummies" - Charles Barkley calls today's players 'dumb' for being incapable of beating the zone defense

charles

As the New Orleans Pelicans contained the Oklahoma City Thunder to close out the second quarter, enduring that the lead didn’t build over from 13 points, Charles Barkley didn’t hold back his criticism of modern-day players’ struggles against zone defense. ‘The Round Mound of Rebound’ bluntly labeled them as ‘dummies,’ suggesting that despite it being one of the simplest defensive coverages to counter, today’s players often find it challenging to navigate through.

“These NBA players are so dumb. The zone defense is the easiest defense in the world to play against. All you got to do is move the ball,” Barkley said. “Guys, when they see a zone, it’s like their brain locks up. Dude, move the ball.”

Charles on modern-day players finding it hard to counter zone defense

Barkley’s critique surfaced as the young Thunder squad struggled to assert dominance over the Brandon Ingram-led Pelicans, settling for lackluster shots. Despite holding a commanding 18-point lead midway in the second quarter, the Thunder witnessed their advantage dwindle to as little as eight points.

Furthermore, observing the struggles of both sets of players against zone defense and the frequency of contested shots being fired, the 1993 MVP refrained from singling out any individual but instead labeled the entire current generation of players as ‘dummies.’

“These guys are so dumb, man,” Charles added. “They don’t know how to play basketball. We’re raising a generation of dummies.”

Barkley’s assessment may have been premature as the Thunder quickly proved him wrong by dominating the Pelicans in the second half, outscoring them 61-42 in the latter quarters. More importantly, they effectively dismantled every defensive strategy deployed by coach Willie Green. Notably, no Thunder starter scored fewer than 13 points, with each boasting a plus/minus rating of at least +24.

Charles isn’t a fan of multiple facets of the modern-day game

The 11-time All-Star is not only puzzled by players’ inability to counter the zone defense but also questions the purpose of the ‘Last Two-Minute Report’ being made public. Barkley finds it perplexing how these reports are publicly disclosed instead of being addressed in private conversations with the officials.

The 61-year-old NBA on TNT panelist questioned the utility of the ‘Last Two-Minute Report,’ which entails missed calls by the refs in clutch moments. Charles thinks that it puts the officials in a bad light and asks if those reports do not affect the outcome of games, then what purpose do they serve?

“I do think officials get a bad rep,” Barkley said. “But the thing I think is happening now that really is, of course, you get it right when you’re sitting at home and watch 25 replays.”