Charles Barkley is still not sold on the new-look Los Angeles Lakers.
During Thursday night's edition of TNT's Inside the NBA, Barkley dropped his latest take on LeBron James and the Lakers' chances in the Western Conference a few weeks after they acquired perennial superstar Luka Doncic.
"I think they're solid," Barkley said. "I don't think they're a contender. ... Listen man, they were awful to start the season—they've been awful for the last two or three years, in fairness. Luka is an upgrade, but I still don't think they are on the same level as the [Denver] Nuggets."
Barkley then went on to crown the Oklahoma City Thunder as the best team in the Western Conference and question if the Lakers are actually better than the Memphis Grizzlies and Houston Rockets.
"I don't think [the Lakers] are a contender. " 👀
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 28, 2025
Chuck thinks Luka is an "upgrade", but still not enough for LA to be considered a threat in the West. pic.twitter.com/8Ro4cSTp5h
Los Angeles is 3–2 in games Doncic has played in since the trade, including back-to-back wins over the Denver Nuggets on Saturday and against his former employer, the Dallas Mavericks, on Tuesday. Doncic didn't have his best showing against Dallas, putting up his fourth triple-double of the season but scoring just 19 points on 6-of-17 shooting.
Entering their matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Cypto.com Arena on Thursday night, the Lakers sit in fifth place in the West with a 35–21 record—trailing the Thunder (47–11), Grizzlies (38–20), Nuggets (38–20) and Rockets (37–22).
Perhaps the Lakers can convince Barkley their championship dreams are for real with a statement win over the Wolves at home.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Charles Barkley Still Doesn't Consider Lakers As 'Contender' After Luka Doncic Trade.
