Charles Barkley vs. Tom Tolbert
(Who’s a better NBA analyst?)
Charles Barkley owns the bigger name, but Tom Tolbert has a lot of game.
Tolbert, who does studio and games for ABC/ESPN, is more plugged in to today’s NBA than is Barkley. Tolbert’s wit matches Barkley’s, plus he is actually in arenas, while Barkley spends more time golfing.
Still, Barkley is a fun listen. His outrageousness does sometimes go overboard , as when he tries to shock with schlock, but usually he owns a point of view that is interesting and insightful. You want to hear what he says.
Of course, Barkley’s big advantage over Tolbert are his numbers. During his career, Barkley went for 22 and 11 on average, while Tolbert was good for 6.5 points and 4 boards per game.
It may not be fair, but the tie goes to the Hall of Famer. Barkley, who never did win the big one, picks up a Matchup ring.