National Basketball Association

Charles Barkley speaks out on Durant trying 'to cheat' his way to a title

Published Jul. 6, 2016 10:44 a.m. ET

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Former Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Kevin Durant has been widely criticized by fans and analysts for his decision to join the Warriors - the team that Durant's Thunder had a 3-1 lead on in the 2016 Western Conference finals.

Charles Barkley, who finished his career as an 11-time All-Star and a one-time league MVP but never won a championship, said Wednesday in an interview with ESPN's Mike & Mike that he would have loved to form a super-team with Michael Jordan and the stars of his era, but criticized players in Durant's position who are trying to "cheat" the system.

Via ESPN:

*Durant is indeed a four-time scoring champion, but he led the league from 2010 to 2012 and again in 2014.

Barkley explained that he believes players now feel such immense pressure to validate their careers with a championship that they are willing to "be the bus rider instead of the bus driver."

Barkley also argued that had Durant remained in Oklahoma City, the Thunder would have been the favorites to advance from the Western Conference to the NBA Finals after falling one game short in 2016.