What a difference a year makes.
During 2020 NBA All-Star Weekend, Charles Barkley said straight up that he did not think Zach LaVine deserved to be an All-Star.
This season? The Chuckster is singing a much different tune.
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As the Inside the NBA panel gave their picks for All-Star reserves, Barkley reasoned why he was going with LaVine over Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young:
"LaVine and Trae Young are not in the same conversation," Barkley said. "LaVine has played great this season."
We all know Barkley too well, though. He had to sneak in a diss aimed at the Chicago Bulls right after:
"That team stinks now," Barkley said. "But I got to give credit where credit is due."
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For the record, Shaquille O'Neal and Ernie Johnson both selected LaVine as a reserve as well. Kenny Smith was the lone crew member who left the Bulls' star guard out.
Considering one of the last times the Inside the NBA crew talked Bulls basketball it revolved around them being "the worst team in the NBA," this seems like progress.