Charles Barkley-JJ Redick beef, explained: Why TNT analyst called Lakers coach ‘a dead man walking’

Up until recent years, TNT’s network tagline was “We know drama.” The tagline may have changed, but members of TNT’s “Inside the NBA” sometimes keep its spirit alive.

While Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal has been using social media to continue an ongoing spat with Dwight Howard, Charles Barkley used his spot on the studio show to speak his mind on first-year Lakers head coach JJ Redick. He didn’t hold back, either.

What exactly did Barkley say about LA’s lead man? Here’s more context on Redick’s comments that elicited such a strong response from Barkley.

SN’s NBA HQ: Live NBA scores | Updated NBA standings | Full NBA schedule

Charles Barkley-JJ Redick beef, explained

During the first TNT doubleheader of 2025, Barkley had plenty to say about Redick while highlights of the Celtics and Timberwolves played.

Barkley took issue with Redick’s suggestion that some television analysts hurt NBA viewership by talking down on the product itself. While Redick did not mention Barkley by name, the Hall of Famer felt the statement was aimed at him.

“I heard JJ Redick said something about me,” Barkley said during the highlight package. “JJ, you better calm down because when you come for the king, you better not miss. He said something about we’re the reason people ain’t watching this crappy product we got. Us, like we’re out there jacking up 100 3s a night.”

Barkley then pivoted to Redick’s job security in Los Angeles, pointing out that Frank Vogel and Darvin Ham were both let go for issues he felt were out of the coaches’ control.

“Remember, I got your Lakers games. You can’t hide them flaws they’ve got,” Barkley continued. “You just a dead man walking. They got rid of Frank Vogel, who did a good job. They got rid of Darvin Ham, who did a good job. You came out there thinking you was gonna change things with that same ugly girl you went on a date with. …

“… The Lakers stink. He came in there thinking, ‘I can make this thing work.’ Hell you can! Better put some makeup on that pig. The Lakers stink, man.”

MORE: Russell Westbrook is proving to be exactly what Nuggets needed

Here is the two-minute rant in full along with Redick’s original comments:

Barkley’s full 2-minute rant on JJ Redick:
“You just a dead man walking…you came out there thinking you going to change things with that same ugly girl you went on a date with…Damn bums out there but it’s Frank Vogel & Darvin Ham’s fault.” pic.twitter.com/juKZXsdALy https://t.co/vTE3YU3xh5

— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) January 3, 2025

Ahead of Los Angeles’ next game, Redick did not have much to say when asked about Barkley’s comments.

“I didn’t make it all the way through the clip, I gotta be honest with you,” Redick began. “My resting heart rate is probably 64. I watched the clip, it was 64. Literally don’t care. I have other thoughts but … don’t care.”

JJ Redick on Charles Barkley calling him “a dead man walking”:
“I didn’t make it all the way through the clip, to be honest with you…I literally don’t care – I have other thoughts but I don’t care.” pic.twitter.com/4eERX5qrMz

— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) January 4, 2025

As Barkley hinted, Redick’s Lakers will be a mainstay on TNT, particularly during the second half of the season. That stretch begins on Tuesday, Jan. 7, when things are still fresh from the “dead man walking” rant.

MORE: Ranking every team’s chances to trade for Jimmy Butler

Lakers TNT schedule 2024-25

TNT is set to broadcast nine Lakers games between Jan. 7 and the end of the 2024-25 NBA season. While the TNT broadcast doesn’t guarantee the full “Inside the NBA” crew will be on hand, Barkley will have ample opportunity to critique Redick’s team.

MORE NBA NEWS: