Before Wednesday night's Eastern Conference semifinal between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons, the Inside the NBA crew paused to honor two basketball figures we lost too soon: Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke and former New Jersey Nets star Jason Collins. Clarke passed away at just 29 years old in Los Angeles, with authorities investigating a possible drug overdose, according to NBC Los Angeles. Collins, a pioneer both on and off the court, died at 47 after a courageous battle with brain cancer.

As the panel reflected on their lives, the conversation naturally turned to the historic moment Collins created in 2013 when he became the first active player in any of the four major professional sports leagues to come out as openly gay. It was a watershed moment for sports, but as Charles Barkley made clear, the work is far from over.

"Courageous," Barkley said, his voice carrying the weight of the moment. "When he came out, man, I thought it was amazing to put himself under the microscope and the scrutiny and the hatred and the vitriol that was going to happen. But man, I hate the way this story ended because he was a shining example."

Barkley didn't hold back, addressing the ongoing struggles within the sports world and beyond. "Do you, man. Obviously anybody out there who's struggling with their sexuality, do you. Gay people have the right to do what they want to do. It's nobody else's business at all. For him to come out, it was great."

Then, with the honesty that's made him a beloved voice in basketball, Barkley added a sobering reality check: "A lot of times, especially in the black community, when you're gay, you get treated awful. And that sucks, too. But I was pro."

In a society that has made strides since Collins' announcement, Barkley's words serve as a powerful reminder: we still live in a homophobic society, and the fight for acceptance—especially in sports—is far from finished. Collins' legacy, however, lives on as a beacon of courage for anyone struggling with their identity, proving that being true to yourself is the ultimate victory.