NBA Great Charles Barkley No Fan Of Men In Women’s Sports
Charlie Kirk Staff
05/09/2025

NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley strongly criticized those who support allowing men to compete in women’s sports, bluntly calling them “stupid.”
Barkley made the remarks during an appearance on OutKick’s Don’t @ Me with Dan Dakich, who raised a question about reports that Nike had funded a study related to so-called “gender-affirming care.”
“Did you see this? I don’t know if you saw this,” Dakich said. “Nike’s been really good to me; Nike would take me on trips, I’d make some money, but they’re helping fund a gender-affirming care study on young boys with the goal is impairing (sic) boys to be able to come down, to participate against women. Have you seen this thing?”
“I have not, but I’m gonna make this very simple for you, Dan. Men should not play sports against women,” Barkley answered. “I’m not gonna get into all the bulls*** that’s going on out here in the world today.”
“You know, it’s interesting; I always sit back and look at stuff. And let me tell you something: I love gay people; I love transgender people. I’m against any form of discrimination, period. … I love my gay friends; I love my transgender friends,” Barkley continued.
“But, I’m not gonna get into all this stuff that’s going around, men should not play sports against women. If anybody thinks that, I think they’re stupid. I support the gay community 100%. I support the transgender community 100%. But I do not, under any circumstances … think that men should play sports against women. If anybody has a problem with that, they’re gonna have to get over it because I’m not gonna change. I just think it’s wrong, period.”
“I’m never gonna think it’s all right for men to play sports against women. I don’t even think that’s controversial,” he continued. “I don’t wanna hear you try to explain it to me. No, no, no, I don’t wanna hear it. I’m not gonna argue with you. Men shouldn’t play sports against women. I’m done. Don’t try to tell me this, or this, or this, period.”
He also had something to say about the alleged Nike funding of ‘gender-affirming care.’
“I don’t even think anybody knows who they are as a young kid. So I think we have to be very careful because you don’t want to put kids in a disadvantageous situation, because, hey, when you get older, you can make your own decision,” Barkley said. “I think we have to be very careful screwing around with kids because they’re not fully developed as a person.”