Charles Barkley Slams Nuggets For Skipping White House Trip: ‘An Honor And A Privilege’
The Denver Nuggets have opted to skip the customary White House visit that comes with winning an NBA Championship. And Charles Barkley isn't pleased with that decision.
The Nuggets were originally scheduled to visit the White House for their glorified photo-op with the President in late January, but the Biden Administration had to reschedule because of a conflict on its end.
READ: Denver Nuggets Cancel Re-Scheduled White House Visit To Focus On Quest For Top Seed In The West
With March 18 fast approaching, the Nuggets have now canceled on the President to focus on their battle for the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. They play the current No. 2 seed — the Minnesota Timberwolves — in Minneapolis the next day.
(Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
With all these facts laid out on Thursday's edition of Inside the NBA, Barkley let out a chuckle.
"Are they flying Southwest or something?" he said. "Come on, man. I actually have a problem with this whole thing that’s happened in sports the last few years, not just now.
"It’s an honor and a privilege to go to the White House. It shouldn’t matter who’s in the White House. It’s an honor and a privilege to go to the White House. You should always go. But these guys act like they’re flying Southwest."
Charles Barkley On The White House: ‘You Should Always Go’
It's a long-standing tradition that whoever holds the Oval Office invites sports teams — college and professional — for a photo-op and brief rah-rah session in the nation's capital when they win a championship (not that Chuck would know anything about that).
The Golden State Warriors went to the White House last year after winning the 2022 NBA Championship, and the Milwaukee Bucks visited Joe Biden the year prior. But Milwaukee was the first NBA team to visit the White House in five years, breaking a streak of no-shows caused by tensions between professional athletes and then-President Donald Trump.
Interestingly, Barkley didn't scold LeBron James or Steph Curry for refusing to hang with Trump. And it's not likely he had a problem with that at all — especially given his meltdown earlier this week, where he insisted that he'd punch black Trump supporters in the face.
And as far as we know, the Nuggets aren't making a political statement by refusing the invitation. It's just a scheduling decision.
(Getty Images)
"You always go to the White House," Barkley said. "Whether you like the President or not… it’s an honor and a privilege to go to the White House, and you should always go."
Interesting he should say that. In 1992, George H.W. Bush hosted a welcome-home ceremony, in which more than 400 American Olympians jammed into the White House's East Room to be honored. But several members of the gold medal-winning Dream Team chose not to attend — including Charles Barkley.
But hey, maybe he had a change of heart over the past 32 years. That, or it actually does matter whether you like the President.