NBA Hall-of-Famer Charles Barkley: Kevin Durant is a cheat

NBA Hall-of-Famer Charles Barkley is disappointed by Kevin Durant’s move to the Golden State Warriors, believing the 2014 MVP is “cheating” his way to a championship.

Durant confirmed his future plans on Monday, announcing he will join the star-studded Warriors from Western Conference rivals the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The 27-year-old spent nine seasons with the Thunder, guiding Oklahoma City to the 2012 NBA Finals, while winning the league scoring champion on four occasions as well as earning seven All-Star selections.

Durant will now link up with reigning MVP Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green in a daunting prospect for rival teams, something Barkley is not happy about.

“I was disappointed. I was disappointed like I was disappointed when LeBron [James] went to Miami,” Barkley told ESPN on Wednesday.

“Kevin is a terrific player, he’s a good kid. But just disappointed with the fact that he weakened another team and he’s gonna kind of gravy train on a terrific Warriors team.

“Just disappointed from a competitive standpoint. Because just like it meant more to LeBron to win one in Cleveland, it would mean more to Kevin to win one in Oklahoma than it would be in Golden State.”

Barkley spent 16 seasons in the NBA, playing for the Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets.

Despite being an 11-time All-Star, the 53-year-old only made one NBA Finals appearance.

But Barkley added: “We develop this thing where you keep telling these guys, ‘Hey man, if you don’t win a championship you’re a bum.’ I don’t feel like a bum. I’m pretty sure Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone and John Stockton — we think we’re pretty damn good. We could have played with some of those other guys and kind of cheated our way to a championship. But there is this thing that started with this new generation where these guys feel so much pressure. Everybody wants to win.

“I’m a big Chris Paul Of the Los Angeles Clippers] fan. I’m sure Chris Paul wants to win a championship. And he could, when his contract is up, go join one of these super teams and get a championship. But it won’t be the same as leading your team where you’re the bus driver instead of the bus rider.”

He continued: “We’re gonna have guys on bad teams making $25million a year. And we’re going to have three or four competitive teams. That’s the negative of LeBron James [now playing for Cleveland Cavaliers] going to Miami [in 2010], KD going to Golden State.”