Dwight Howard gets awkwardly grilled by Charles Barkley on live TV (video)

Houston Rockets star Dwight Howard was asked some pretty straight forward questions by TNT analyst Charles Barkley during Tuesday’s postgame show.

In just over a month and a half, the 2016 NBA Free Agency period will begin and players can start to sign their deals with either their current team or a new one. While much of the attention is focused on where Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant will end up, another big man is poised to possibly have another big pay day.

Houston Rockets star center Dwight Howard can opt out of his current deal with the team come this summer, making him a free agent. Howard has become one of the more polarizing players in the NBA in recent years, with fans and the media either really, really loving him…or really, really hating him.

Tuesday, Howard was a guest analyst on TNT’s coverage of playoff basketball and their postgame show, Inside the NBA. During the postgame show, fellow analyst Charles Barkley, who is never afraid to speak his mind, asked Howard point blank why people don’t like him. The moment seemed awkward at first glance, but Howard answered and gave his true feelings on the subject:

"Dwight Howard on Inside the NBA addressing criticism he has faced during his career https://t.co/96hzHdvKri— TurnerSportsPR (@TurnerSportsPR) May 11, 2016"

Barkley would later continue to be the basketball version of Dr. Phil by advising Dwight Howard not to listen to the media because “when you’re winning, they love you”. Howard also said he has not made a decision about whether or not to opt out of his current deal, to which Barkley told him to take the summer before deciding anything.

For more NBA Free Agency news, check out our NBA Free Agency hub page.