WASHINGTON D.C. -- Charles Barkley didn’t hold back.

Appearing on TNT’s Inside the NBA studio show, shortly before tipoff of the first game of the network’s doubleheader -- Philadelphia 76ers vs. Brooklyn Nets -- Barkley took a moment to rip the Cleveland Cavaliers for their treatment of former head coach John Beilein, who resigned Wednesday evening after just 54 games.

“I want to call out the Cleveland Cavaliers. I thought what they did to Coach Beilein was ridiculous, unprofessional,” Barkley said. “I think the veterans on that team were not leaders. And I think the young guys on that team who can’t play think they are better than they are and they tried to get that man fired. I’m so disgusted by those players trying to get that man fired.”

Barkley didn’t specify where his venom was directed. But using the term “veterans” seems to imply Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson -- two of the holdovers from the LeBron James era.

“John Beilein is a hell of a coach and I think he’s a good guy,” Barkley said. “For those players to complain about ‘we’re practicing too hard, we’re watching too much film’ because they stink, I just didn’t think that was fair. When a coach is wrong I’m going to call him out. When players are wrong I’m going to call them out. I’m disgusted by what the Cavaliers did to Coach Beilein."

In a press release announcing his decision, Beilein cited the toll that losing was taking on him. The Cavs are 14-40 this season, the worst record in the Eastern Conference. Beilein, who never really had a chance for success because of an imbalanced roster and at-times defiant personnel, started to grow concerned over his own health and his family’s well-being. He made it clear that the decision to step down was his, not something that the front office -- or anyone else -- forced on him.

But Beilein’s brief tenure in Cleveland was dotted with drama, both on and off the floor, which played a part in the season-long struggles. There was a disconnect between him and players. One recently told cleveland.com that the 67-year-old college lifer was treating them like college kids instead of professionals.

“Just disrespectful for grown men," the player said.

In December, players anonymously questioned Beilein’s unconventional methods and his overall understanding of the NBA game. A few weeks later, Love threw a temper tantrum on the floor, walking toward Collin Sexton, demanding the ball and firing it violently at the feet of Cedi Osman. Love later admitted that his anger was directed at Beilein for not recognizing a favorable matchup against the smaller Chris Paul.

On Jan. 8, Beilein found himself at the center of a storm once again as he accidentally referred to players as “thugs” instead of slugs -- the word he meant to use to describe their lethargic play.

Beilein apologized to players immediately after and once more the following day. Some players got over it. Others didn’t. A couple days after that verbal mistake, both Barkley and TNT colleague Shaquille O’Neal defended Beilein, who had an emotional farewell with his players in the film room at Cleveland Clinic Courts on Wednesday evening, before stepping aside and allowing J.B. Bickerstaff to take over.

“I would have went out swinging,” Barkley said. “He should have said, ‘Y’all a bunch of damn losers, I’m glad to get the hell out of here.’”

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