Charles Barkley on Derrick Rose’s comments about sitting out: ‘That was flat-out stupid’

Welcome to the latest installment of “Charles Barkley Voices His Opinion,” in which the lovable “Round Mound of Rebound” says what he’s thinking and doesn’t care what anybody else thinks.

Tonight’s topic: Derrick Rose’s recent comments about sitting out in order to preserve his body for his post-basketball career.

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Charles, the floor is yours.

Ernie Johnson: Do you take issue with that?

Charles Barkley: Of course I do, that was stupid. Derrick Rose is a great player, is a great kid, loves his mom. That was stupid. You know, Ernie, we’re so blessed. I limp around, but I go home to a big ol’ mansion. There are people who work harder than Derrick Rose who go home to a shack. There are consequences to what we do for a living, but we got the best life in the world.

I’m a poor black kid from Leeds, Alabama, who grew up in the projects, and listen, I don’t mind limping around because when I go home, there’s a big ol’ house. I don’t even know, I got good sheets. I don’t know the thread count, but they good. I got a big ol’ car, I never have to worry about my bills.

There are pros and cons to what we do for a living. Derrick Rose is making $20 million a year. He got a couple bad knees. That’s disrespectful to maids, people who are in the army, people who go out and kill people and get killed, people who got no arms and no legs. Listen, as much as I like Derrick Rose, that was just flat-out stupid.

Is he right? Is he wrong? Who knows.

That’s what makes Sir Charles so entertaining.

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