Charles Barkley was on ESPN’s Stanley Cup Final broadcast for only a few minutes, but he had more than enough time to roast Jayson Tatum before he left.
Barkley joined ESPN’s halftime show to discuss Ondrej Palat’s incredible goal for the Lightning in the first period of Monday night’s Game 3, among other things. During his analysis of the gorgeous tally, which gave the Lightning their first lead of the series, Barkley couldn’t help but roast Boston Celtics star Tatum less than a week after the team’s NBA Finals loss.
The burn? Barkley compared the Avalanche’s turnover that led to the Lightning goal to Tatum’s antics with the Celtics.
โThis is a regular old Jayson Tatum turnover,โ Barkley said. “I’m sorry. I’m just joking… I love you, Jayson Tatum. I’m just joking!โ
Charles Barkley throws some shade at Jayson Tatum๐
God I love Chuck ๐คฃ pic.twitter.com/3DNq7Ansv6
โ Jonny Lazarus (@JLazzy23) June 21, 2022
Ouch! But not untrue either, as Tatum finished the postseason with 100 turns to his name.
Barkley also had time on the broadcast to crack a few jokes about commissioner Gary Bettman as well!
“I was sitting around the house today, and I called the Commissioner.”
Charles Barkley reached out to go to Game 3 of the #StanleyCup Final ๐ pic.twitter.com/FcauXna2Uz
โ ESPN (@espn) June 21, 2022
Hockey fans, as expected, absolutely loved Barkley’s appearance and his roast of Tatum.
Charles Barkley just casually saying โso I called up Gary Bettman and said gimme two seatsโ like he’s in ticket sales๐๐๐
โ not nastya ovechkin (@nastyaovechkin) June 21, 2022
Charles Barkley spent the first intermission on ABC for the Stanley Cup Final. The man is TV gold.
He broke down Tampa’s goal, calling Colorado’s turnover a โgood old Jayson Tatum turnover.โ pic.twitter.com/tNW0uIyFuf
โ Brad Galli (@BradGalli) June 21, 2022
More Charles Barkley on hockey broadcasts please
โ Katie Brown (@katiebhockey) June 21, 2022
Charles Barkley is the best thing about ESPN hockey coverage by a mile if you want to know how bad the hockey guys are.
โ FlyersPuckSauce (@FlyersPuckSauce) June 21, 2022
I’m not entirely sure why Charles Barkley is at the Stanley Cup intermission desk, but I’m kind of here for it.
โ fadedoasis (@fadedoasis) June 21, 2022
Starting a petition to get Shaq and Charles Barkley together on the Stanley Cup Finals panel
โ Mitc-hell (@mitchsamuelson) June 21, 2022
Charles Barkley is the best!! “That’s a regular old Jayson Tatum turnover” ๐๐ more hockey analysis from chuck please! pic.twitter.com/IKXU5sEe8E
โ Alex Micheletti (@AlexMicheletti) June 21, 2022
Can Charles Barkley be on every halftime show for every sport? ๐
โ chris (@christav__) June 21, 2022
I would pay an irresponsible amount of money to get Charles Barkley in the booth for a full hockey game
โ The Bratt Pack (@TheBrattPack63) June 21, 2022
.