Skip Bayless Accuses Charles Barkley of Phoney College Basketball Love Ahead of March Madness Final

As the Final Four hype reached a fever pitch, longtime sports provocateur Skip Bayless stirred the pot with a shot aimed squarely at NBA legend and CBS analyst Charles Barkley. And true to form, Bayless didn’t pull any punches.

“As I watch Charles Barkley gush out-of-character PR quotes about how much he loves the Final Four,” Bayless said, “I can’t help wondering if he walks off camera and says, ‘I can’t wait till this sh— is over. If they didn’t pay me so damn much money…’”

Now, to be fair, Barkley did appear genuinely locked in during Auburn’s Final Four clash against the Florida Gators. When Auburn led by eight at halftime, Barkley was glowing with praise. “That was a perfect first half of basketball,” he told viewers with a grin.

As I watch Charles Barkley gush out-of-character PR quotes about how much he loves the Final Four, I can’t help wondering if he walks off camera and says, “I can’t wait till this sh— is over. If they didn’t pay me so damn much money …”

— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) April 8, 2025

It felt authentic — like the guy was living and dying with every possession. But that joy turned into heartbreak as Florida’s Walter Clayton Jr. put on an all-time March Madness performance. Even then, Barkley kept it classy. When co-host Ernie Johnson praised Clayton with a simple, “Clayton is that guy,” Barkley didn’t argue. “Yes sir, Ernie. Say less,” he replied.

It was a moment of grace, respect, and maybe even a little pain — the kind you expect from someone who truly cares. But for Bayless, all that charm and passion seemed too polished, too rehearsed. According to him, Barkley’s Final Four enthusiasm isn’t coming from a place of genuine love for the game, but from a lucrative contract and a well-rehearsed PR script.

That’s a heavy thing to say, especially for someone who’s never shied away from emotion when it comes to Auburn basketball.

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