TNT's Charles Barkley Calls State of NBA Load Management 'A Joke and a Disgrace'

"We're not steelworkers," the Hall of Fame forward said.

Much has been made in recent seasons of the proliferation of "load management" in the NBA—the practice of teams limiting the minutes of players, usually stars, in the regular season to ensure they'll be healthy come playoff time.

However, some have chafed at the practice—particularly past NBA players, who often thrived with no such option available to them. Desiring to make its stars more visible, the NBA has introduced a participation policy for the 2024 season.

On Tuesday, Hall of Fame forward Charles Barkley blasted the fact that the policy was even necessary ahead of TNT's first national broadcasts of the season.

"Yo, my man, don’t get me started, man. You’re just going to make my head hurt on the first f---ing night," Barkley told Ben Golliver of the Washington Post. "This is a joke and a disgrace that we’re paying guys $50, 60 million a year to play basketball a few days a week."

"We're not steelworkers, or doctors, nurses," Barkley said. "I'm offended that we're even having this conversation, to be honest with you."

TNT’s Charles Barkley on NBA’s Player Participation Policy: “Yo, my man, don’t get me started, man. You’re just going to make my head hurt on the first f—ing night. This is a joke & a disgrace that we’re paying guys $50, 60 million a year to play basketball a few days a week.” pic.twitter.com/cTpTCyx4lU

— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) October 24, 2023

Barkley further explained his views on the subject while previewing the coming season on TNT.

“If you’re making $30M, $40M, $50M to play basketball four days a week … Man, if you can play, shut the hell up and play.”

Chuck's message to players on load management 😳 pic.twitter.com/woLLB4QSuA

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) October 24, 2023

Under the league's new policy, players will have to play 65 or more games to be eligible to win the MVP award—a number Barkley hit in 13 of 16 seasons across his distinguished career.