Charles Barkley Doesn't Hold Back on Jaden McDaniels: "Imma Put A Hit on Him"
Charles Barkley didn't mince words about what he would've done in last night's game. At the end of a Timberwolves win over the Nuggets, things got chippy after Jaden McDaniels made a last-second layup while up by 14 points. Nikola Jokic took offense to this, charging McDaniel's leading to a brawl that cleared the benches. On Inside the NBA following the game, Charles Barkley defended Jokic, saying he would do something similar.
Charles Barkley says he would of put a hit out on Jaden McDaniels if he scored when the game was over vs his team ????
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) April 26, 2026
“Imma put a hit on him. I’m not goin to lie, I have put a hit on guys. If we’re down 20, you don’t do it. If a team is up on me 20 points and a guy shoots a 3,… https://t.co/UaHZqxuOdr pic.twitter.com/0cuEjnf39Y
Barkley said he wouldn't stand for that and that he would put a "hit" out on that player for his behavior. He also added that it was something he had done before during his career and was proud of it. Shaq pushed back against Barkley, saying a loss is a loss.
"You lose by 23, I ain't gonna try to fight them," said Shaq. "Next game, I’m going to get them."
The fight between Minnesota and Denver resulted in ejections for both Jokic and Julius Randle, who quickly came to the defense of McDaniels. Several other players left the bench area during the scrum, which could result in suspensions, but as of Sunday afternoon, none have been handed down. Game 5 tips off Monday at 10:30 p.m. EDT, as the Timberwolves look to close out the series on the road.