Los Angeles Lakers: Charles Barkley invites LeBron James to the TNT Studios for one night!
By Ronald Agers
LeBron James and Charles Barkley have a philosophical difference
First, let’s go back to 2017. LeBron James was playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers and they were the defending World Champs, defeating the 73-9 Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals. They had just made history as the only team to come back from 3-1 to do so.
LeBron James seemed to be very frustrated with the roster construction at the time. Seems kind of amusing in comparison to this Lakers team he signed off on in the offseason.
"“It’s like when you don’t have bodies. It’s tough,” James said. “The f—ing grind of the regular season. We’re a top-heavy team. We have a top-heavy team. We top-heavy as s—. It’s me, [Kyrie Irving], [Kevin Love]. It’s top-heavy.” “We need a f—ing playmaker,” James said. “I’m not saying you can just go find one, like you can go outside and see trees. I didn’t say that.”"
Well, that comment was a topic of discussion on Inside the NBA. Let’s just say it got kinda heated.
Well, that conversation set off a media firestorm. After LeBron James had his statement directed at Charles Barkley, there wasn’t a sports show in America that wasn’t discussing it.
"“I’m not going to let him disrespect my legacy like that,” James told ESPN. “I’m not the one who threw somebody through a window. I never spit on a kid. I never had unpaid debt in Las Vegas. I never said, ‘I’m not a role model.’ I never showed up to All-Star Weekend on Sunday because I was in Vegas all weekend partying.”All I’ve done for my entire career is represent the NBA the right way. Fourteen years, never got in trouble. Respected the game. Print that.”"
Okay LeBron, it’s printed. Well, I bet the executives at Turner Sports were drooling waiting for the ratings for the next show. The one thing Charles Barkley does not do is hide. The panel talked about the comments.
The question now is, will LeBron James address this episode? As journalists, you know that the panel will bring it up. In the video, you see Charles Barkley stood by his comments while he stated LeBron took the situation too far and made it personal.
The one thing about Charles Barkley is that he is brutally honest. His friendship with Michael Jordan suffered for years when he criticized the way he ran the Charlotte Bobcats (now Hornets) when they went through their 7-59 season.
Shaquille O’Neal seemed to back up LeBron on the panel. But remember Kenny Smith sided with Charles Barkley. Kenny Smith may have questions about holes in his game.