NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley didn’t hold back in his criticism of the Los Angeles Lakers after their shocking 118-97 loss to the Dallas Mavericks, a game where the Mavs were missing both Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving. The Lakers, who were expected to take advantage of this opportunity, failed miserably and instead suffered a humbling defeat.
On NBA on TNT, Barkley didn’t mince his words, calling out the Lakers’ poor performance. “The Lakers stink, plain and simple… The Lakers are not a good team. They have zero athletic ability… The Lakers are not any good,” Barkley declared live on air, sharing his brutally honest opinion.
As the Lakers struggled, Barkley wasn’t the only one making tough assessments. Kenny Smith highlighted the fact that the Mavs were coming off a five-game losing streak, while Ernie Johnson noted the team had lost ten straight without their stars. Shaquille O’Neal, another Lakers legend, also expected a strong performance from LeBron and his teammates but admitted the game turned out to be the complete opposite.
The Mavericks were led by Quentin Grimes, who posted 23 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists, shooting an impressive 6-for-11 from three-point range. Players like P.J. Washington (22 points, 8 rebounds) and Jaden Hardy (15 points) also contributed in double figures, underscoring the Lakers’ struggles against a shorthanded Mavericks team.
This wasn’t the first time Barkley had criticized the Lakers. Earlier in the season, he expressed his skepticism about both the Lakers and the Golden State Warriors, calling them “play-in candidates,” given their unimpressive rosters and lack of offseason improvements. Barkley also called for the media to stop hyping up both teams as title contenders, reiterating that neither squad was in the playoff hunt at that time. Despite the harshness of the comments, Barkley’s words are reflecting the reality of the Lakers and Warriors’ struggles this season, with both teams currently sitting at sixth and ninth in the Western Conference, respectively.
The situation in Los Angeles has raised questions about the Lakers’ potential to compete for a championship this season, and Barkley’s blunt analysis continues to serve as a reality check for LeBron James and company.
“The Lakers stink, plain and simple”
Chuck didn’t mince words after Dallas’ win tonight 👀 pic.twitter.com/3qgdp2Atqz
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) January 8, 2025