Charles Barkley says he would ‘stroll round bare’ if he had Russell Westbrook’s physique
Charles Barkley couldn’t assist however swoon over Russell Westbrook’s abs earlier than Recreation 5 of the Clippers-Suns first-round playoff sequence on Tuesday.
Westbrook, 34, flashed his abs in an open button-up shirt whereas arriving on the Footprint Middle, the place the Suns defeated the Clippers to shut out the sequence, 136-130.
“If I had a physique like that, I’d stroll round bare,” Barkley stated on TNT’s “Contained in the NBA” pregame present.
After fellow “Contained in the NBA” host Ernie Johnson noticed that Westbrook had one in every of his buttons achieved, the remainder of the TNT crew began busting Barkley.
“One button Russ. Settle down, Chuck, loosen up,” Kenny Smith stated, laughing. “Chill out… he’s received one button.”
Johnson added, “Chuck couldn’t take one other totally un-button.”
That’s when Shaquille O’Neal quipped, “Lickin’ your lips, scrumptious.”
Westbrook, who has discovered success off the court docket together with his Honor the Reward clothes line, is understood for his ardour for trend and outspoken appears.
The previous MVP turned Barkley’s head previous to Recreation 1, when he confirmed off his eight-pack underneath a yellow button-down shirt.
“Woo man!” Barkley said on the time.
“I can’t bear in mind the final time I might take my shirt off in public… That’s a case of beer, that ain’t no six-pack.”
Smith added, “That’s an eight-pack.”
He then held Barkley’s toes whereas the Corridor of Famer, 60, did crunches on the ground of Studio J in Atlanta.
Westbrook, who signed with the Clippers in February after a contract buyout from the Jazz and a messy exit with the Lakers, completed with 14 factors on 3-for-18 taking pictures, eight rebounds, and eight assists with 5 turnovers in Recreation 5.
Regardless of his taking pictures struggles — he tallied 9 factors on 3-of-19 taking pictures in Recreation 1 — Westbrook had loads of strong moments.
Westbrook averaged 32 factors in Video games 2-5, taking pictures 54 % from the sphere — and went 8-for-16 from three-point vary throughout that span.
The nine-time All-Star scored a season-high 37 factors (together with 24 second-half factors) within the Clippers’ Recreation 4 loss.
After Tuesday’s season-ending loss, Westbrook spoke about feeling accepted by the Clippers.
“I can’t say sufficient how appreciative I’m of people who assist me by way of ups and down and understanding that I’m human like anyone else,” he said.
“I’m so grateful and blessed to finish up on this state of affairs the place I’m simply allowed to be myself and… introduced in with open arms.”
Westbrook added the season started out “difficult” and that “it’s been a rollercoaster mentally emotionally for me and my household, for my shut ones, even for my youngsters — it’s a variety of feelings for me truthfully, so I’m simply grateful to be sitting right here.”
Barkley has praised Westbrook in separate interviews — and beforehand defended the veteran guard throughout his rocky tenure with the Lakers.