Longtime studio analyst Charles Barkley, who is paid handsomely to discuss basketball on national television two nights a week, put his NBA knowledge to the test Tuesday night during a recurring segment called, “Who He Play For?” The game, devised by TNT producers, is exactly what it sounds like—Barkley was presented with five active players and asked to place them on their current NBA teams.
Known more for his blistering takes and blunt humor than his encyclopedic hoops knowledge, the Hall-of-Fame forward predictably struggled, whiffing on all five players. Host Ernie Johnson even gave Barkley a chance to redeem himself with a sixth bonus question, allowing Chuck to guess which team Mark Daigneault coaches. Like the rest of us, Barkley was baffled to learn Daigneault serves as head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“He’s got a hockey name,” said Barkley, laughing at his own ineptitude. “I bet he’s from Canada.” Wrong again, Chuck—Daigneault is a Massachusetts native.
“Nobody actually knows these guys on bad teams. That’s not fair,” said a frustrated Barkley after failing to identify Garrett Temple’s current team, the Chicago Bulls. “You never ask me what team Giannis plays for or Kemba Walker.”
Along with Temple, the newest member of TNT’s prestigious “Who He Play For?” Hall of Fame, Barkley was also stumped by Hawks forward Solomon Hill (Chuck thought he was an Indiana Pacer), Alfonzo McKinnie of the Lakers (not Minnesota, as Charles had suspected), journeyman Ed Davis (now of the Timberwolves) and Mavericks vet James Johnson.
“Ugh,” Ernie groaned after Barkley, in a Hail Mary attempt, guessed Johnson played for the Orlando Magic. “You’re just taking shots everywhere.”
In fairness, I’m not sure I would have done much better than Barkley. But seeing Chuck errantly guess which teams scrubs like Alfonzo McKinnie (career 4.3 points per game) play for will never get old.
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