The TNT panelist doubted whether the Knicks were title contenders during the halftime show of Tuesday’s game between New York and the Cleveland Cavaliers.“I think the Knicks need to do something,” Barkley said. “You see how this movie’s going to end.”
The Basketball Hall-of-Famer added that he felt the Cavaliers had a higher ceiling than the Knicks before tearing back into New York. “But for me, the Knicks are like, ‘We play hard. We’re solid,” he said. “But they’re not contenders, so if I’m them, I’m like we got to do something. All those draft picks we got, what ‘What are we saving them for?’ Go out and make a move because you gotta say to yourself, ‘We’re not in the conversation with Boston and Milwaukee.’”That’s when host Ernie Johnson interrupted to ask Barkley who the Knicks should go out and get.
“I think the Knicks need to do something… You see how this movie’s gonna end… ‘We play hard. We’re solid.’ But they’re not contenders… This team here is not gonna win anything… You can’t be mediocre and stick with that.”- Charles Barkley on the KnicksTowns has been with the Timberwolves for his entire career and has made three NBA All-Star appearances over nine seasons. headtopics.com
But Minnesota has had very little success during that span, and they’ve made just three playoff appearances — never making it out of the first round.The Knicks are coming off a season last year in which they made the playoffs and then secured their first postseason series victory since 2013.“This team here is not going to win anything,” Barkley said. “They beat Cleveland last year, but they’re not a contender and you can’t be mediocre and stick with that.
Jalen Brunson passes in front of Cleveland Cavaliers’ Damian Jones, Emoni Bates, Sam Merrill (5) and Craig Porter (9) in the second half of the Knicks 109-91 win on Tuesday.