Charles Barkley Says Lakers Aren’t As Good As Spurs

TheSportster

By Alex Hoegler

Published Sep 28, 2018

NBA legend and basketball analyst Charles Barkley believes LeBron James' Lakers aren't as good as the San Antonio Spurs.

Mar 3, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns former guard Charles Barkley in attendance of the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the Thunder 118-111. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sportsfor

LeBron James left the Cleveland Cavaliers a second time to sign a four-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason, but Hall of Famer and analyst Charles Barkley isn't ready to buy the purple and gold hype yet.

Talking to Stephen A. Smith on SportsCenter (h/t Charlie Malam of Express), Barkley explained why he doesn't think the Lakers are a true contender, adding that the new-look San Antonio Spurs are a better team.

"Obviously he’s (James) the greatest basketball player in the world today but the problem is that team isn’t very good," Barkley said. "The Lakers are not a contender, they’re probably a five or six seed in the West and they’re going to get a lot of attention."

Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

Smith responded by saying the Lakers will manage to reach the Western Conference Finals in their first year under LeBron. Barkley responded that the Lakers aren't "even as good as the San Antonio Spurs," and he's "not even sure they’re better than the Portland Trail Blazers."

The Spurs finished with a 47-35 record, despite being without superstar Kawhi Leonard for 73 games. After a falling out with the organization, Leonard requested a trade and was sent to the Toronto Raptors, along with Danny Green. In return, the Spurs got DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl and a 2019 first-round pick.

Franchise icons Tony Parker (signed with the Charlotte Hornets), and Manu Ginobili (retired), are gone now. But with DeRozan, LaMarcus Aldridge, Rudy Gay and Pau Gasol, there's plenty of talent for the Spurs to win 50-plus games and snag a top-five spot in the West.

For the Lakers, LeBron will need plenty of production from youngsters Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma and Brandon Ingram. Rajon Rondo and Lance Stephenson were the Lakers' biggest signings outside of James, and neither are exactly superstars.

The Golden State Warriors are undoubtedly in a class of their own, and the Houston Rockets are probably the second-best team in the West. After that, it's up for interpretation as to whom the next best teams are in the conference.

NEXT: KOBE BRYANT SAYS REAL LAKERS FANS WILL SUPPORT LEBRON JAMES