Former player/coach Charles Oakley rips Barkley, KG, Perkins

[King Taharqa]

Former NBA star and legendary tough guy Charles Oakley tosses out compliments like man-hole covers.

However, the criticism is free-flowing.

Appearing on Jim Rome's radio show, he called Charles Barkley a coward, Kevin Garnett a faux tough guy and blamed Kendrick Perkins for getting dunked on.

On Garnett: "He's one of the weakest guys to ever play the game. He's a complementary player and went to Paul Pierce's team and won a championship. I wouldn't consider him a top 10 tough guy."

On Barkley: "Barkley for his size was a good player but he's a coward though ... he wasn't a leader and wasn't a role model. Now he talks so bad about younger guys, I don't respect that from him. … He's wants to be funny, that whole TNT thing and all that, they're like some clowns on that show."

On Perkins: "He's just like Garnett. They holler and complain. If Kendrick Perkins would play basketball, Oklahoma City would win a championship the next three or four years … you're a power forward, you don't let guys dunk on you. I played 18, 19 years I got dunked on 3 times ..."

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gameon/post/2012/02/charles-oakley-doesnt-care-for-barkley-or-garnett/1#.T0XCN4z0Rkg

Oak is a former Bobcat Coach and one of MJ's best buddies. I'm glad he's telling it like it is.

[Kevin Greene]

The game has pussified over the years since Oakley played. The Knick/Heat battles used to be classic, much dislike between those teams.

But it's the way the games are officiated as well so there is that.

His criticizing current players or an NBA pre/post game show, meh.

[King Taharqa]

[cdandi1]

I credit Oakley's coaching and Silas' motivating ways for the improvement of Kwame Brown last year. I also think Oakley could do wonder for Biz's game..especially being so raw...Oakley could mold Biz into an enforcer.

I hope his back heals and he can return to coaching sooner rather than later.

[Kramerica]

Tell it like it is, brother.

[SOJA]

I loled at this:

you're a power forward, you don't let guys dunk on you. I played 18, 19 years I got dunked on 3 times ...

[rico6]

Wish he'd come back and transform Bismack into a death machine.

[mav1234]

Oakley has some nice comments. I like this one on James when asked if he'd compare him to Michael Jordan:

“I wouldn’t put them in the same conversation.

“It took a while for Michael to win championships too, but they have a different swagger, a different demeanor. If I would compare anybody to Michael Jordan, it would be Kobe Bryant. Point blank. I know LeBron well; he don’t have what Michael have so I’m not even gonna discuss that one.

“To be a superstar (LeBron) has to go back to his fundamentals… work on his post game, work off the ball.”