NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley Calls Paul George’s 25-Game Suspension ‘Fishy’

NBA superstar and Philadelphia 76ers shooting guard Paul George has been suspended for 25 games, the league announced on Saturday, January 31 — but Charles Barkley isn’t buying the explanation.

“It’s something fishy going on here,” the NBA Hall of Famer said on Saturday’s episode of Inside the NBA. “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 don’t make sense to me, it don’t make sense,’ because 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.”

He continued, “There’s never a good reason to take a performance-enhancing drug. But if you’re taking a drug for your mental health, you should get a hall pass.”

According to the league, George violated the NBA/NBPA anti-drug program. The NBA did not clarify how the star violated the policy or which drug — or drugs — was allegedly involved.

“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 told ESPN on Saturday of his suspension. “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.”

He continued, “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.”