Charles Barkley Is Not About the Frat Life: 'Only Losers Join Fraternities'

Charles Barkley is never one to hold his tongue, and now the NBA Hall of Famer has made it clear that he’s not a fan of fraternities.

The former Houston Rocket gave his thoughts on Greek life during a recent episode of Inside the NBA after Shaquille O’Neal referenced his Omega Psi Phi brotherhood. "I don't want to be in no fraternity," Barkley said, calling them "a bunch of damn loser dudes getting together all the time. Only losers join fraternities."

At that point, Kenny “The Jet” Smith jumped into the conversation and praised what fraternities do in their communities — but Barkley had already made his mind up. “Knock it off,” he said to Kenny. “If they were that good, you’d join.”

When Smith responded by saying he didn’t have the time to be in a fraternity back when he was in college, Barkley threw another shot. “You were busy. Yeah, only losers join fraternities,” he added.

After hearing that Michael Jordan was in Omega Psi Phi with Shaq, Barkley doubled down on his stance, suggesting that MJ had distanced himself from the organization. “He might be (a member) but he ain’t doing nothing with those bums,” the outspoken host said.

Public Enemy legend Chuck D took to X to weigh in on Barkley’s comments, responding to a video of the conversation. "Crazy lololol i went through my college years fighting Frats.. Working with them and fighting em,” he wrote. "As a young head I was definitely Charles. Spike also knew it on [sic] School Days. We all grew afterwards but yeah Charles was real on it."

Barkley’s comments about frats come days after he received an Omega beatdown from Shaq in an impromptu wrestling match on Inside the NBA.

On the grapple-heavy episode, the crew welcomed John Cena as a guest to promote the upcoming season of The Peacemaker. Cena asked Barkley if he liked wrestling, which prompted Shaq to attack him and lock his arms around his body.

Shaq would emerge victorious from the surprise match after he brought Barkley to the ground, and Smith gave him a three-count.