Leave it to Sir Charles Barkley to say what everyone else is thinking.
On Thursday’s Inside the NBA program, Barkley called on an NBA team to sign veteran shooting guard Tony Snell to a contract so that he would be able to get healthcare to treat both his son’s autism.
The issue revolves around the fact that Snell only played 9 seasons in the NBA – just one short of the 10-season mandatory service that would allow for him to be placed in the NBA’s retirement program and receive healthcare benefits for himself and his family. Unfortunately, time is running out for Snell – who last played in the NBA in the 2021-2022 season, as he needs to be signed by THIS AFTERNOON.
“The NBA’s been great to all of us sitting up here and you guys are going to be playing basketball forever, making a gazillion dollars,” Barkley said. “I hope one of you guys signs Tony so his two autistic kids can get great medical care.”
“I hope a team signs him for the rest of the season because, I don’t know a lot about autism, I ain’t gonna say that, but man I know it’s gotta be expensive to have two young kids with that situation,” Barkley continued.
“We always talk about what a family we are. Let’s sign that kid for the rest of the season.”
The 32-year-old Snell is now doing anything and everything he can to get back into the NBA so he can get the important healthcare coverage and help his sons. He is currently playing for the Boston Celtics G-League team, the Maine Celtics, which one can imagine isn’t a lavish lifestyle for someone who used to be on the big court.
“It’s something I truly need,” Snell explained during an interview with Yahoo about his healthcare situation.
Shout out to Barkley for making Snell’s dire situation more known so that there is more awareness and hopefully even pressure on at least ONE team to do the right thing and sign him.
Think of all the players that ride the bench on NBA teams, many who will never step foot onto the court. You mean to tell me that Tony Snell and his 9-year veteran experience couldn’t be more beneficial for a team? Come on now. Although his stats aren’t anything superb, Snell is still averaging 13 minutes per game so he clearly has at least something still.
If I’m Commissioner Adam Silver I’m on the phone calling every team until I find one that’s willing to do it. The NBA is in shambles right now and could use a good PR move – any team who does this will immediately be in the fan’s good graces and, oh yeah, is also doing a good deed and God knows we need more of those in society these days.
It’s not even like the billionaire owners would have to pay him a lot of money – just sign him to a damn contract. Do the right thing, NBA!
