Charles Barkley tears into NCAA for current NIL landscape: ‘Ruined the sport’

Charles Barkley, a former NBA star and current college basketball analyst, has not held back in his criticism of the NCAA’s handling of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights and the transfer portal. In a recent interview on OutKick’s “Don’t @ Me with Dan Dakich,” Barkley, 62, called the NCAA “a bunch of idiots and fools” and claimed that they have “ruined the sport” of college basketball.

Barkley expressed his concerns about the current state of college basketball, particularly in regards to players being able to profit from their NIL rights and transfer schools more easily. He questioned the logic behind players receiving large sums of money and being able to switch schools frequently, comparing it to the NBA where players don’t have the same freedom to move teams every year.

While Barkley acknowledged that he is not opposed to players getting paid, he raised doubts about the sustainability of the current system in college basketball. He highlighted the challenge of getting a return on investment when players may only stay at a school for a short period of time, potentially hindering a team’s chances of winning championships.

When asked about donating to his alma mater, Auburn, to support their NIL fund, Barkley revealed that he had recently donated $10 million to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and contributed to rebuilding houses in his hometown of Birmingham. He emphasized that these causes were more important to him than getting involved in what he called the “cesspool” of college athletics.

Even if Barkley were to contribute to Auburn’s NIL fund, he expressed uncertainty about how he would see a return on his investment, especially if players only stayed at the college for a short period of time. Barkley’s concerns reflect a broader debate within college sports about the impact of NIL rights and the transfer portal on the traditional model of amateur athletics.

As Barkley continues to voice his opinions on the NCAA and college basketball, his perspective adds to the ongoing conversation about the future of the sport and the balance between player compensation and the integrity of collegiate athletics. It remains to be seen how the NCAA will address these issues and whether changes will be made to address the concerns raised by Barkley and others in the sports community.