Washington, DC - Charles Barkley says he had gay teammates in the NBA, that it was no big deal, and that it's time for people to quit believing that gays face bigger obstacles in sports than elsewhere.

"I didn't think it . . . they were gay," Barkley told the Washington Post, saying he had gay teammates on at least two of his three NBA teams.

As for the notion that gays face big barriers in sports, Barkley said:

"First of all, every player has played with gay guys. It bothers me when I hear these reporters and jocks get on TV and say: 'Oh, no guy can come out in a team sport. These guys would go crazy.' First of all, quit telling me what I think. I'd rather have a gay guy who can play than a straight guy who can't play."

Added Barkley:

"Any professional athlete who gets on TV or radio and says he never played with a gay guy is a stone-freakin' idiot. I would even say the same thing in college. Every college player, every pro player in any sport has probably played with a gay person."

And he finished up with:

"First of all, society discriminates against gay people. They always try to make it like jocks discriminate against gay people. I've been a big proponent of gay marriage for a long time, because as a black person, I can't be in for any form of discrimination at all."