Charles Barkley: Klay Thompson Is NBA’s Second-Best Player, After LeBron James

Charles Barkley has shown once again that he isn’t afraid to speak his mind, even if many basketball fans, NBA members or his own colleagues may strongly disagree with him.

Charles Barkley: Klay Thompson Is NBA’s Second-Best Player, After LeBron James

The TNT analyst used the pre-game show before the Cleveland Cavaliers’ season-opening win against the New York Knicks on Tuesday to state who he believes is the second-best player in the league after LeBron James.

Barkley named Golden State Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson as the NBA’s second-best player.

The choice will undoubtedly come as a shocker to scores of NBA fans, who may have guessed Barkley would have given that prestigious title to reigning two-time MVP Steph Curry, 2014 MVP Kevin Durant– who was traded to Golden State from Oklahoma City this summer– or all-over-the-place forward Draymond Green. Nevertheless, none of these three Warriors stars shine as bright as Thompson, according to Barkley.

Co-analyst Kenny Smith began the discussion by saying that, in the offseason, the Warriors had added “the second-best player on Earth,” Durant. “You’re out of your mind,” Barkley told him.

When initially asked who his second-favorite hoopster was, Barkley said the Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard, then Thompson. He then clarified his position by saying, “I think Klay Thompson is the best all-around player, other than LeBron James, in the NBA.”

The analyst said Leonard was “right there,” but ultimately gave the nod to Thompson based on the latter’s better offensive skills. Barkley ranked Durant fourth and Curry fifth.

Many experts agree that Curry and Durant are not as capable defenders as Thompson and Leonard are. However, Curry led the league in player efficiency rating last season (per Basketball Reference), and by a significant margin, with his 31.5 mark well ahead of Durant’s second-place mark of 28.2. Meanwhile, Leonard was sixth at 26.0 and Thompson ranked far behind at 18.6. Obviously, there are several other measures besides PER to evaluate players, although it’s also worth noting that Curry’s mark in defensive win shares, 4.1 (per Basketball Reference again), ranked 10th in the NBA and well ahead of Thompson (2.6), but behind Green at 5.1.

Barkley probably has a stronger argument to make in favor of Leonard, given that the Spurs star finished second to Curry in MVP voting this year.

OAKLAND, CA – MARCH 25:  Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after making a three-point basket against the Dallas Mavericks at ORACLE Arena on March 25, 2016 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.  (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)