Barkley: Pence Needs To Shut The Hell Up About NBA, Lebron James

What got Barkley started? Writing for the Washington Post, Des Bieler reports:Show more

Pence referred to Morey’s tweet, which was quickly deleted, while making wide-ranging criticisms of China in an appearance at the Wilson Center in Northwest Washington. He made pointed assertions about not only the NBA but also Nike, a close corporate partner of the league.

“Far too many American multinational corporations have kowtowed to the lure of China’s money and markets, by muzzling not only criticism of the Chinese Communist Party but even affirmative expressions of American values,” Pence declared. “Nike promotes itself as a so-called ‘social justice champion,’ but when it comes to Hong Kong, it prefers checking its social conscience at the door.

Barkely did not demurr in his calling out Pence’s comments, saying “let me say this. First of all, Ben, Vice President Pence needs to shut the hell up, first of all.” He then explained that “all American companies are doing business in China. All American companies are doing business in China. I thought the criticism of Commissioner Silver and LeBron James was unfair.”