Charles Barkley says athletes 'deserve some preferential treatment' for COVID-19 vaccination

Charles Barkley believes professional athletes, including NBA players, should be among the first to receive vaccines for the novel coronavirus. 

His reasoning? Taxes. 

"Three hundred million shots, give a thousand to some NBA players, NFL players, hockey players," Barkley said during Thursday's "Inside the NBA." "Listen, as much taxes as these players pay – let me repeat that – as much taxes as these players pay, they deserve some preferential treatment." 

© Kyle Terada, USA TODAY Sports Charles Barkley at the original Match in 2018.

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In December, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said the league would not jump ahead of anyone when it came to getting vaccinations for COVID-19. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell also said last month that no one in the NFL would be receiving a vaccination before the Super Bowl.

Kenny Smith, one of Barkley's fellow panelists on the show, offered a rebuke, asking, "For life and death? The amount of money you make ... "

Barkley responded that his wasn't about income, but taxes — which are largely based on an individual's income and where they reside.  

"We can't go there," Smith cautioned. "I don't think you can go there." 

Charles Barkley says NBA/NFL players should jump the line and get vaccine shots because they pay more taxes than normal people pic.twitter.com/ce5y1WTTOk

— gifdsports (@gifdsports) January 15, 2021

Follow Chris Bumbaca on Twitter @BOOMbaca. 

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Charles Barkley says athletes 'deserve some preferential treatment' for COVID-19 vaccination