Fans condemn Barkley over 'uncomfortable' Thomas comments
Basketball fans have condemned Charles Barkley for comments the NBA legend made about Isaiah Thomas, one day after the Boston star's sister died.
The outspoken Hall of Famer said he felt "uncomfortable" watching Thomas crying before the Celtic's NBA playoffs loss against the Chicago Bulls.
Thomas' 22-year-old sister, Chyna, died in a car wreck in Washington State on Saturday, leading to widespread tributes from the basketball community.
Prayers for Isaiah Thomas and family as he just finished maybe the hardest game he ever had to play.. #NBAPlayoffs
— Eddie Gill (@Eddie_Gill4) April 17, 2017
Understandably, the tragedy left Thomas distraught during the warm-up before tip-off against the Bulls, prompting Barkley to offer his controversial opinion.
"I'm not feeling comfortable with him sitting on the sideline crying like that," Barkley said on 'Inside the NBA.'
"That makes me uncomfortable. So that tells me he's not in shape to play.
"I don't know how this night is going to turn out, but to be sitting on the sideline a few minutes before the game and crying, that just makes me uncomfortable for him.
"That's just not a good look for him."
Barkley may have been questioning the decision to allow a clearly distraught Thomas to play, but nevertheless, his comments were rounded upon by angry fans on social media.
So Isaiah Thomas crying becsuse he lost his sister makes you uncomfortable? It's a bad look? Charles Barkley is a joke of human being.
— Alex Ott (@AlexOtt6) April 17, 2017
Charles Barkley is a douchebag how are you gonna say it makes you uncomfortable watching someone grieve about losing a sister
— Muhammad Tariq (@mhtariq18) April 16, 2017
Please give Charles Barkley Donkey Of The Day, saying Isiah Thomas made him uncomfortable crying before game grieving for sister @cthagod
— Rakabash (@Rakabash) April 16, 2017
Remarkably, Thomas top-scored with 33-points but it was to no avail as the Celtics went down 106-102 against the Bulls.
Chicago holds a 1-0 lead in their Eastern Conference finals series.
Incredible performance by Isaiah Thomas though. Can't even fathom how he did what he did today.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) April 17, 2017
Isaiah Thomas gets the game ball. And a million hugs. Warrior. I couldn’t imagine playing basketball right now. Thoughts remain with him.
— Jared Wade (@Jared_Wade) April 17, 2017