NBA legend Charles Barkley isn't buying the details of Paul George's suspension.
News broke Saturday Philadelphia 76ers star forward Paul George is being suspended 25 games for violating the NBA's anti-drug policy.
George made a statement to ESPN not long after, revealing the medication he was taking was for his mental health. Reactions to the suspension began to pour in from fans, players, and media, with one analyst coming out with a brutally honest take about the situation.
NBA legend Charles Barkley shared on ESPN Tip-Off he isn't fully buying into the details of the suspension, specifically regarding what George claimed he was taking.
"There's something fishy going on here," Barkley said. "Now I don't joke around about mental health, but if you're taking something for mental health, that's got to be an outlier to the NBA. Like my girl Judge Judy says, 'If it doesn't make sense to me, it don't make sense.'"
George was acting as the third option for the 76ers behind the superstar duo of Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. This suspension will sideline him well into March, leaving Embiid and Maxey to carry the team for the majority of the remainder of the regular season.
Barkley continued, "I like Paul George… but if you're taking something for mental health, even if it's on a list, you should get a hall pass. There's never a good reason to take performance-enhancing drugs, but if you're taking a drug for your mental health, you should get a hall pass. This sounds fishy."
In the coming days, more details regarding the suspension could come to light.
Here is George's full statement to ESPN on his suspension:
“Over the past few years, I’ve discussed the importance of mental health, and in the course of recently seeking treatment for an issue of my own, I made the mistake of taking an improper medication," George said. "I take full responsibility for my actions and apologize to the Sixers organization, my teammates and the Philly fans for my poor decision making during this process."
“I am focused on using this time to make sure that my mind and body are in the best condition to help the team when I return," George concluded.
Although George has the support of his teammates during this trial, it's clear Barkley isn't buying into what the nine-time All-Star is claiming occurred.
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