Charles Barkley: Kawhi Leonard is a starter.

[Buddy Holly]

Per the Dan Patrick Show.

[MaNu4Tres]

Very possible-- kid has to earn it. Spurs are not the Wizards Chuck.

[ohmwrecker]

Love him or not, Chuck was right more than he was wrong last year.

[JR3]

Love him or not, Chuck was right more than he was wrong last year.

its true. Maybe he put down the drugs.

[TDMVPDPOY]

if he gets the startin job = ROY, FIRST TEAM ALL ROOKIE TEAM

[tim_duncan_fan]

I've always trusted Chuck. He loves the Spurs. I don't know why he gets so much flack on here.

[Ginobilly]

Anything is better than Gayfferson starting. No doubt Pop is going to give Jefferson the starting spot, but if he continues his piss poor play, I wouldn't be surprised if Pop goes with Leonard by January.

[k_nguyen93]

He didn't love them last year that's why. In hindsight he was right. Defense wasn't on par with previous years. I don't think they were overrated per say but flawed. Can't really be overrated if you get no love yet win 60+ games. He was also saying Dallas was best team in Texas all season.

[SourCandy]

spurs are due a fresh superstar.

[will_spurs]

Anything is better than Gayfferson starting. No doubt Pop is going to give Jefferson the starting spot, but if he continues his piss poor play, I wouldn't be surprised if Pop goes with Leonard by January.

Like Splitter last year. I can totally see it.

[pawe]

Leonard, Neal, Blair, Splitter, Anderson <--- Good solid young guys right there!

[TDMVPDPOY]

is he good enough to be a franchise player?

[k_nguyen93]

Blair needs to get in shape. You're forgetting DaSean Butler, Ryan Richards, and Danny Green. Lots of young guns. Even Novak > Bonner.

[TacoCabanaFajitas]

Leonard, Neal, Blair, Splitter, Anderson <--- Good solid young guys right there!

Neal is 28 :/

[Solid D]

Remember Charles' postgame remarks after the Rockets played the Spurs in Timmy's rookie season? "I have seen the future and he wears number 21."

[objective]

Spurs will be a better team if Leonard is playing more minutes than Jefferson.

[Ginobilly]

He didn't love them last year that's why. In hindsight he was right. Defense wasn't on par with previous years. I don't think they were overrated per say but flawed. Can't really be overrated if you get no love yet win 60+ games. He was also saying Dallas was best team in Texas all season.

I don't know, I think we could of beaten the Mavs this year if Tim and Manu would of been fully healthy, but I don't know about beating the Lakers or Miami though. The NBA playoffs is all about matchups rather than who is the "better" team overall most of the time. And we seem to matchup pretty well with the Mavs this time around, kinda like they did against us in 06/07. That's why it was kinda good that we didn't play them in 07 because they had the psychological advantage over us. But I think now we have it against them. They should try to avoid the Spurs at all costs in the 2012 playoffs because the spurs are going to be looking for blood. We are way overdue for a deep playoff run!

[Buddy Holly]

Neal is 28 :/

Bowen was 30 when he got here in 2001. He lasted a good 8 years.

I'll take a good 8-10 more years from Neal. His game doesn't require great athleticism or anything that'll take a toll on his body. He can go for a while.

[Solid D]

That was an easy one though.

That's true and not all of Charles' picks in the NCAA tourney were correct, either.

[Obstructed_View]

Charles despised the Spurs' "no defense" teams. No wonder he thinks a guy that can defend should start for them.

[objective]

Neal is 28 :/

if by 28 you mean 26, then yes

[Mel_13]

Neal is 28 :/

if by 28 you mean 26, then yes

Beat me to it.

[TMTTRIO]

I've always trusted Chuck. He loves the Spurs.

Really? For the last two seasons he hasn't and his favorite player Manu has fallen off his list of favorite players.

[Ginobilly]

Charles despised the Spurs' "no defense" teams. No wonder he thinks a guy that can defend should start for them.

That's why he hasn't given us a chance after 07 and he was right. Hopefully it looks like Pop is coming back to his senses and going back to defense, old boring Spurs basketball.

[Obstructed_View]

That's why he hasn't given us a chance after 07 and he was right. Hopefully it looks like Pop is coming back to his senses and going back to defense, old boring Spurs basketball.

Agreed. As a fan it makes you mad, but the results make it pretty hard to dispute his opinions about it.


BTW, I don't recall Barkley saying anything negative about Manu.