Even when Charles Barkley is analyzing the NBA playoffs, the Hall of Famer is keeping one eye on the Stanley Cup Playoffs. His left eye, the hockey eye.
As the TNT analyst wrapped up Wednesday’s Inside the NBA, he sounded more preoccupied with the score in the Chicago Blackhawks-Nashville Predators overtime game.
Barkley then offered up a random shoutout to Tampa Bay head coach Jon Cooper, whose Lightning look to knot their series with the Detroit Red Wings Thursday.
“Come on, Tampa Bay,” Barkley encouraged. “I haven’t given up on you yet, Coach Coop.”
Turns out the two have a history, as they met once in Los Angeles.
“You have one perception of a guy on TV and I grew up watching him play,” Cooper told reporters.
“But after spending a few hours with the guy, I’ll be honest. He’s one of the greatest guys I’ve ever met. I marveled how he is with other people, the stories he told, how genuine he was. This is just the perfect example.
“I haven’t spoken to him in six months, and for him to be following us and cheering for us, that shows the class of the guy. It’s awesome.”
STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS: | Broadcast Schedule
Rogers NHL GameCentre LIVE | Stanley Cup Playoffs Fantasy Hockey
New Sportsnet app: iTunes | Google Play