Charles Barkley could not believe that the Detroit Pistons broadcast during the team's recent defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers compared Austin Reaves to NBA Hall of Famer Larry Bird.

Over the weekend, the Lakers defeated the Pistons 121-116, with Reaves the star of the show. With Luka Doncic out, the Lakers offense ran through Reaves, who dropped 43 points on the Pistons. But while his performance was otherworldly against Detroit, Barkley took issue with a comparison the Pistons broadcast made.

During the broadcast, they compared Reaves to NBA Hall of Famer Larry Bird, a comparison Barkley believes was wholly unjust, given what the latter achieved during his historic career.

Barkley faced off against Bird on a number of occasions during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The latter spent his entire 13-year career with the Boston Celtics, winning three NBA titles, three MVP awards, and two Finals MVPs.

He also earned 12 All-Star selections and was named to the All-NBA First Team on nine occasions.

Speaking on ESPN, Barkley blasted the comparison, with him going on to say that the only comparison that should be made between Bird and Reaves is their skin color.

Barkley began: "I was watching the Detroit Pistons against the Lakers the other night, and some idiot or fool or jack--- thought it would be appropriate to compare Austin Reaves to Larry Bird.

"Y'all put together a team and said, 'Who does Austin Reaves remind me of?' And y'all put a video clip of Austin Reaves - I love Austin Reaves - don't compare him to Larry Bird ever."

The NBA Hall of Famer began to get more irate at the comparison, continuing his tirade. "Under no damn circumstances, do not ever do that again. I don't know who put that damn clip together, but don't ever do that again," he continued.

"And listen Austin Reaves, you know I love you, don't put him on the same clip with Larry Bird. Yeah, they're both white, that's it. That's the only thing they have in common. Nothing else.

"I would say Luka's more Larry," interjected Kenny Smith, to which Barkley replied, "They had Austin Reaves fool."

The Lakers are currently sweating on Reaves' fitness after he left Wednesday night's game against the Milwaukee Bucks with a heel injury. He did not return to the game, limping off the court and being accompanied by the Lakers medical staff.

Head coach JJ Redick has said X-rays of Reaves' heel came back negative and that he would not know his status moving forward until he undergoes further evaluation when the team returns to Los Angeles.

While the scans came back negative, he also did not rule out any concerns about Reaves' Achilles tendon.