Charles Barkley is an NBA legend, but it's no secret that he is a passionate hockey fan. The 11-time NBA All-Star is quite vocal about his hockey fandom and joined TNT's NHL Altcast for Game 2 between the Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes.
While on it, Barkley had some kind words to say about Panthers star forward Brad Marchand.
"Listen, man. That guy right there, I love watching Marchand," Barkley said. "He is one of those guys you would love to be with. I have nothing but admiration and respect for him."
However, shortly after praising Marchand, Barkley shared that he "hates" Panthers defenseman Seth Jones for a humorous reason.
"Let me tell you something, I hate Seth Jones," Barkley said. "I really do. His dad... I played in the NBA all those years. His dad was the only person who could kick my a** all the time. To this day, Bird was great. McHale was great. Karl Malone was great. Garnett, all of these guys. I could hold my own against those guys. I never had any success against Popeye Jones. And to this day, I have no idea why, so I will always hate Seth Jones because of his dad."
Jones' dad, Popeye Jones, played 11 seasons in the NBA split between the Dallas Mavericks, Toronto Raptors, Denver Nuggets, Washington Wizards, and Golden State Warriors. Thus, Barkley had some battles with Popeye on the court, and it is clear that he has not forgotten them with this humorous story.
While Jones may not have a fan in Barkley, it is clear that the Panthers faithful love that the right-shot defenseman is on Florida's roster. Jones has been a great addition to their group and has made a big impact this post-season. In 14 playoff games with the Cats so far this spring, he has three goals, six points, and a plus-8 rating.
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