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Charles Barkley: People Will Be "Cruel" to Kobe Bryant

The commentator thinks fans will taunt the divorcing basketball star.

Charles Barkley has some off-court commentary for Kobe Bryant's personal life. The retired NBA star and TNT's resident basketball pundit says Bryant shouldn't expect fans to be sympathetic to his divorce from his wife Vanessa (widely rumored to be the result of Kobe's many infidelities).

"I really like Kobe; I wish him all the best," Barkley, 48, said Tuesday on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno. "But of course the fans are cruel. They're going to be shouting stuff at him. He's going to have to deal with that." 

Because nobody loves a cheater in basketball?

"That's never good for a team," Barkley says of the gossip. "I'm just telling you, that's never positive." 

Despite the backlash, Barkley thinks the all-star will pull through. "He's so strong, mentally," says Sir Charles. "I think he'll be fine."

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(Photo: Ed Andrieski-Pool/Getty Images)

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