Charles Barkley Thinks That LeBron James Should 'Shut the Hell Up' About Free Agency

Because Cleveland is a city on the demise and because LeBron James is the king of all things basketball-related, he's generally allowed to do whatever he wants. He's much like a really hot girl dating an ugly guy in that sense, if you're into semi-accurate, Simmons-like analogies.

But, he may have taken it a bit far in discussing his future after being a Cav (if that happens) ... at least according to Charles Barkley on the Dan Patrick show recently.

"If I was LeBron James, I would shut the hell up," Barkley said in the Wednesday interview. "I'm a big LeBron fan. He's a stud. You gotta give him his props. I'm getting so annoyed he's talking about what he's going to do in two years. I think it's disrespectful to the game. I think it's disrespectful to the Cavaliers."

I, as usual, tend to agree with Chuckles on this one. While LeBron is free to say whatever he wants -- and Cleveland really can only get so mad with the guy that they're trying to woo into staying -- he really shouldn't fire back to the New York media or any media of the sort when they start asking about 2010.

For starters, it's two years away, and secondly, he's been coached almost as well as any athlete since Michael Jordan to keep his mouth shut in public and play the role of one-sided corporate behemoth. So that's probably what he'd be best served doing in this case, regardless of how much he gets asked about the issue.

Charles Barkleys Most Memorable Moments

Cavaliers star LeBron James, right, ripped NBA legend Charles Barkley, left, after Barkley said that LeBron should just "shut the hell up" about possible free agency options in 2010. "He's stupid. That's all I've got to say about that," James said. Click through to see some of Barkley's other colorful moments.

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Barkley recently decided to pay 28-year-old busboy Christian Abate's tuition so he could finish college. "He's a nice kid," Barkley said. "He was working with kids, I loved that he wanted to be a teacher, and I wanted to help him."

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Politics? Why not? Barkley told CNN in October he plans to run for Governor of Alabama in 2014. Asked if he was serious, Barkley responded, "I am, I can't screw up Alabama."

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On the court, Barkley was frequently fined for fights with other players. In 1990, Barkley and Bill Laimbeer were each fined $20,000 (a record amount for the NBA at the time) for a fracas during a playoff game.

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While Barkley was beloved by fans, he gained fame for his anti-role model stance. "A million guys can dunk a basketball in jail; should they be role models?" Barkley said in 1993, which launched his famous "I am not a role model" Nike ad campaign.

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As a player, the fiery Barkley had a few run-ins with the law. He was once arrested for breaking a man's nose during a fight after a game with the Bucks, and he once famously threw a man through a plate-glass window after being hit with a glass of ice at a bar.

Orange County Sheriff's Office / AP

After retiring as a player, Barkley joined TNT's 'Inside the NBA,' where he has become the "butt" of many a joke. Literally. In one skit, Barkley was forced to kiss a donkey's posterior after losing a bet with Kenny Smith.

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During the 2007 All-Star Weekend in Las Vegas, Barkley took part in a memorable foot race against 67-year-old referee Dick Bavetta. Barkley won the race, while Bavetta dove at the finish line and wound up bloodying his knee.

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In May, Barkley made headlines after a Las Vegas district attorney said he could face criminal charges if he didn't repay a $400,000 debt owed to the Wynn casino. Sir Charles has since repaid the debt and stated he will quit gambling in the future.

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Moving forward, the Round Mound of Sound is sure to keep right on rolling. For instance, 'Inside the NBA' host Ernie Johnson got Barkley to read the words "I'm a dumbass" off a teleprompter last season while he was filming a promo.

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