NEW YORK — Charles Barkley thinks projected No. 1 pick Ben Simmons should stay in school.
Yes, you read it right.
“I do not think Ben Simmons should come out, he’s not dominating college,” Barkley said Tuesday at the CBS/Turner NCAA Tournament brunch in midtown.
Barkley has long said that most college players aren’t ready to play in the NBA, and that anyone projected as a second-round pick should stay in school.
Now he’s saying anyone who doesn’t make the NCAA Tournament shouldn’t come out, either. Simmons looks like he’ll be the first No. 1 pick since Michael Olowokandi in 1998 whose team didn’t qualify for the Big Dance.
“He’s not even f***ing making the [NCAA[ Tournament,” Barkley said of the 6-foot-10 Simmons, who’s averaging 19.0 points, 11.9 rebounds and 5.0 assists for LSU (18-13, 11-7 SEC). “There should be a rule if you don’t f***ing make March Madness, you shouldn’t be able to go to the NBA.”
So he should stay in school even though he’s the No. 1 pick?
“Yeah, I think he should stay in school,” Barkley said.
As for Kentucky’s Skal Labissiere, once the projected No. 1 pick and now at No. 10 by DraftExpress, Barkley dismissed the idea that he was ready for the NBA.
“You think that kid ready for the NBA?” he asked.
When a reporter said no, Barkley said, “Thank you.”
