Charles Barkley criticizes Shannon Sharpe's altercation with Memphis Grizzlies: "Reporters can never get into it with players"

Charles Barkley recently weighed in on Friday night's controversy between Shannon Sharpe and the Memphis Grizzlies. The Pro Football Hall of Famer was sitting courtside during the Grizzlies' 122-121 loss to the LA Lakers when an altercation broke out between him and Grizzlies players Dillon Brooks and Ja Morant, as well as Morant's father.

Unc Shannon sharpe wanted smoke with all the grizzlies 😭😭😭 https://t.co/wMZUijnora

During an appearance on SiriusXM's NBA radio show, "NBA Today," Barkley said:

"Reporters can never get into it with players. That's my rule of thumb, because, you know, we get paid to talk about these guys, and if you hate guys or don't get along with guys, you're going to be somewhat biased whether you believe it or not.

"Television's a very powerful vehicle, and you've got to be really careful because people believe everything we say, unfortunately. I'm not saying anybody was right or wrong, but I'm saying, as a guy who's on television, I could never get into it with the players. That's just my rule of thumb."

Sharpe said that the altercation began as he trash-talked Brooks, claiming he was too small to guard LeBron James. After an argument between the two ensued, Morant got involved and eventually his father did as well.

Shannon Sharpe on the incident that occurred during Grizzlies-Lakers.

(via @mcten) https://t.co/dyCSIshBCA

Sharpe later apologized for his actions on his television show, "Undisputed." It remains to be seen if he will have a bias towards the Grizzlies players.

Watch Charles Barkley discuss Shannon Sharpe's altercation with the Memphis Grizzlies below:

“Reporters can never get into it with players”

Charles Barkley shares his thoughts on Shannon Sharpe’s encounter with Memphis Grizzlies players.

@TermineRadio | @JumpShot8 https://t.co/0l4NweI9gk

Charles Barkley previously feuded with Brooklyn Nets superstar Kevin Durant

While Charles Barkley has criticized Shannon Sharpe for feuding with players, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer has done the same himself, most notably with Brooklyn Nets superstar Kevin Durant. During an appearance on ESPN's "Get Up," Barkley said:

"Before KD gets that great respect from all the 'old heads,' he’s going to have to win a championship as the 'bus driver.' He joined that team that already won a championship. No disrespect, that’s just a fact. … Until he is the guy on a championship, we’re not going to ever give him the respect that he probably deserves."

Durant responded on Twitter:

"All this shit is nasty, another terrible analogy from a hatin old head that can’t accept that we making more bread than them. It’s just timing Chucky, don’t hate the playa"

Check out Charles Barkley's comments on Kevin Durant and the superstar's response below:

All this shit is nasty, another terrible analogy from a hatin old head that can’t accept that we making more bread than them. It’s just timing Chucky, don’t hate the playa twitter.com/GetUpESPN/stat…

The back-and-forth continued last month as Barkley labeled Durant as insecure. Durant later responded on Twitter that he has never had an interaction with Barkley, and that the Hall of Famer is insecure for taking personal shots at his character without knowing him.

"I think he's insecure at times." -Chuck on his exchanges with KD

(via @TaylorRooks) https://t.co/WDnIiRem3j

This clown does not have g14 classification to speak on the god, we’ve never had a real human interaction…carry on haaaa twitter.com/BleacherReport…

I think it’s insecurity when u go on tv trying to take shots at my character as a man. But shit, I’m an ignorant jock, what do I know.. twitter.com/blakekimball/s…