VIDEO: Charles Barkley Defends John Beilein and Accuses Cavaliers Players of Trying to Get Him Fired

An analyst for the NBA on TNT, all-around legend Charles Barkley is known for voicing unvarnished opinions on television, and this latest case is no different. On Thursday night, Barkley went off on the Cleveland Cavaliers players on "Inside the NBA," calling them a "bunch of losers" and claiming they were the reason that coach Jim Beilein left the team in the midst of his first season in charge.

While Barkley was not incorrect in calling the Cavs a bunch of losers in one respect -- they are last in the Eastern Conference with a 14-40 record, after all -- this is quite an accusation. There have been reports almost since Beilein took over that the players did not like the coach's style, and there have already been rumors that Andre Drummond would not re-sign if Beilein was the coach next season.

At some point, however, players need to figure out how to tough it out through a difficult situation, and Barkley is convinced that some members of the Cavs weren't giving it their level best, perhaps in an effort to hasten Beilein's exit from the team.

There was clearly something about the former Michigan head coach that rubbed numerous players the wrong way in Cleveland, and criticism in this regard is warranted given that the NBA is the ultimate player-driven league. Barkley's accusations take things to another level, however. One wonders if he actually has any privileged information or if he's just 100% spitballing based on gut instinct.