Charles Barkley Boasts After Spurs' Epic Collapse In Game 4
Charles Barkley may not have a preference as to who wins the NBA Finals, but he certainly felt a level of vindication after seeing the way in which the San Antonio Spurs lost Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
As soon as he got a chance to speak on Inside the NBA last night, Barkley started off by calling the Spurs "the dumbest basketball team in the history of civilization" for how they played in their 1117-116 loss to the New York Knicks. He took a level of vindication in his years of criticizing teams excessively going for three-pointers, pointing out that people have accused him of being too old for the modern game. Barkley said that once the three-point attempts stopped going in, it put the Spurs in a position to let the Knicks back in the game.
"In today's NBA, any time us old guys says something, y'all like, we old, ‘get off my lawn' guys," Barkley said. "Yo, those 3s were great, the first half. At some point, when you start missing, you gotta say, 'Maybe we should stop shooting 3s.' That's my criticism. Like damn dude, you ain't making them."
Vindication
NBA fans couldn't help but agree that Barkley was spot on with his criticism of the Spurs. Just about everyone remarked that the Spurs' determination to widen the lead rather than maintain it cost them dearly - and may even cost them the series.
"If your team is up by 20+ points, you shouldn't be taking 3's, unless your man is wide open. Keep attacking the paint and drawing fouls. It's the easiest way to protect your big lead. It's common sense," one user wrote on X.
"The Spurs continued to shoot 3's in the 2nd half. They're young inexperience. The young Spurs panicked when the Knicks defense adjusted. The Spurs abandon their offensive rhythm and favor quickly on 3's attempts instead of grinding out points in the paint. A complete meltdown," wrote another.
"He's right. Most importantly don't shoot a contested 3 early in the shot clock with a lead like that," a third remarked.
"I agree totally...how can you be up 30pts and continue to come down without working the clock. No teammates back on offense and just launch 3s . Really the coach has lost his mind. Set up the offense work the clock and take better shots especially up 30 points."
"Not all old advice is bad advice. If everything new was better, why is the world in such bad shape?"
The Spurs had better make some adjustments to how they play when they're ahead. They've now blown three double-digit leads in the NBA Finals alone and several more throughout the playoffs.
The next blown lead will probably be their last.
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This story was originally published June 11, 2026 at 5:24 PM.