NBA Hall of Famer and TNT analyst Charles Barkley chimed in on the recent debate involving Duke freshman forward Zion Williamson and the knee injury that shook college basketball.

The 6-foot-7, 285-pound Williamson suffered a mild sprain of his knee during a scary moment in the opening 33 seconds of a Duke-UNC classic, bursting through his shoe and quickly grimacing after clutching his knee.

Many analysts and fellow athletes debated he should sit out the rest of the season, having already proven he's worthy of the No. 1 overall selection in this upcoming NBA Draft.

Barkley begged to differ.

“When did we ever get to the point when all people care about is money?” asked a confused Barkley during a recent broadcast of Inside The NBA. “Shaq played in college for (three) years, Kenny [Smith] played for four, I played for three, Michael Jordan played for three, Tim Duncan played for four, David Robinson played for four — some of the best basketball players ever — Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson played.

“When did we get to the point when we have clowns on television saying ‘oh, don't play' — that's what you do, Ernie. That's what we do, we play basketball. I don't ever want to see anybody get hurt, this kid seems like he is a fantastic player, but I get so mad when people think that money is all that matters in the world, like ‘you're going to go to the NBA, don't play' — I mean that's ridiculous.”

RECOMMENDED (Article Continues Below)
NBA analyst Charles Barkley and recently banned Jontay Porter of the Toronto Raptors

Sonny Giuliano ·

NBA Playoffs Primer: With Zion Williamson and Jimmy Butler injuries, Jontay Porter banned, and Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins with question marks

Brett Siegel ·

Will Smith with a Pelicans headband

Rexwell Villas ·

Opinions on what Williamson should do have varied, as some others have suggested the same as Barkley. Ultimately, it will be Zion's decision to play or sit out until the draft, depending on what he considers his priorities to be.

As a former player, Barkley understands the camaraderie involved and the void a team could feel with their star player choosing to sit out, an aspect often overshadowed by the green that's ahead in his awaiting pro career.