Charles Barkley Claims Stephen Curry Would be ‘Beat Up’ in ’80s and ’90s NBA

Charles Barkley has played through the '80s and '90s and knows how different basketball has become in the NBA.

Charles Barkley Claims Stephen Curry Would be ‘Beat Up’ in ’80s and ’90s NBA

Stephen Curry and Charles Barkley (Image via FirstSportz)

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Working for TNT, Charles Barkley has witnessed the NBA change over the past two decades, where lethal shooters such as Stephen Curry have brought a new dimension to the game he loves.

Back during his era, the great players were defined by how they could shoot around the rim, as well as from the midrange. 3-point shooters were only deemed good to be specialists, who would come in when there was a need to score a bunch of points.

Most long-range shooters were defensively challenged, which explains why they never played many minutes. The logic in the 90s was that most defenders would concentrate on protecting the paint, as most of the damage was done in that area.

That allowed shooters to shine in moments, but they were quickly withdrawn when their opponents targeted them on the other end. In the case of Curry, it is the way he mixes up opponent defensive schemes along with his efficiency that makes him lethal.

When the 62-year-old was speaking at Rowan University, he got a chance to talk about the differences between the current NBA and the era in which he played.

The game is easier to play… There’s no physicality whatsoever. We would have beat the hell out of that little dude. Seriously, I love Steph Curry. You think Steph Curry could have took the beatings that Michael Jordan took?

Charles Barkley said

The Hall of Famer added that Stephen Curry or any NBA player of this generation would not be able to hold a candle against the ‘Bad Boy’ Pistons or any physical team of the ’80s and ’90s.

Charles Barkley slams players earning millions taking games off

When speaking at Rowan University, the host then asked Charles Barkley about the NBA’s $77 billion media rights deal and its impact on fans who have been used to watching games for free.

It’s gonna be interesting how the public reacts to that… In the next 3 or 4 years, we’re gonna have guys making 80,90,100 million dollars a year. Then, when these guys say, ‘I can’t play 2 days in a row.’… I think the fans at some point do have a breaking point.

Charles Barkley said

The Round Mound of Rebound is not sure if fans would continue to take it if players continue to casually approach the game. Last season, a few teams were fined, and some players were booed for sitting out games.

Charles Barkley believes this could boil over at some point, and fans might end up deserting the NBA and move to other sports where players are not allowed to do such things.

Charles Barkley used to hurt his arm flying coach

While talking about the old days, Charles Barkley started talking about how in his early days in the NBA, he had to fly commercial. He then recounted how those travels used to impact him.

Celtics players on their private team plane
Celtics players on their private team plane (Image via Jayson Tatum/X)

There was a couple of times I would get to a city, and I couldn’t move my arm. Our trainers like, ‘Dude, what happened to your arm? Did you get hurt in the game last night?’ I’m like, ‘Nah, man. I just had this old lady laying on me in coach.’

Charles Barkley said

While explaining how it was back then, the former league MVP revealed that only the veteran star players at the time could fly first class, while others had to travel in coach.

He believes today’s players are so accustomed to excesses that they would not even think of flying coach, let alone in a commercial airplane. It goes to show the strides that have been made in the NBA.

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