CHARLES BARKLEY hasn’t been shy about taking shots at LEBRON JAMES over the years . . . and so it wasn’t a surprise when he took him to task recently for whining about how he needs the Cavs to get him more help.   Well, LeBron was asked about his criticism after a game on Monday, and he went OFF.

He said, quote, “He’s a hater.  What makes what he says credible?  Because he’s on TV?  I’m not going to let him disrespect my legacy like that.  “I’m not the one who threw somebody through a window.  I never spit on a kid.  I never had unpaid debt in Las Vegas.  I never said, ‘I’m not a role model.’  “All I’ve done for my whole career is represent the NBA the right way.  14 years, never got in trouble.  Respected the game.  Print that.”  He also said, quote, “Screw Charles Barkley.”

Hear “Sir” Charles Barkley’s rebuttal here: http://www.espn.com/espnradio/chicago/play?id=18593987