Charles Barkley Apologizes To Lakers For Berating Them, Calls Them “Contenders”

Charles Barkley(L) and LeBron James(R)

Fortunes turn around in the NBA very quickly. The Los Angeles Lakers, after experiencing one of their most disappointing nights of the 2025/26 season against the Suns two days ago, look like they found their mojo back against the Warriors on Saturday. Charles Barkley lauded them albeit perhaps sarcastically, going back on his words from an hour prior.

Barkley had berated the Lakers, accusing them of tanking based on how woeful they were against a Phoenix Suns side that didn’t feature Devin Booker or Dillon Brooks. But teams have good and bad nights, and against the Warriors, we saw the Lakers’ good side.

At their best, the purple and gold are contenders, and Barkley admitted to the same during broadcast of the matchup against Golden State.

“I want to apologize to Laker nation,” Barkley stated. “Y’all are contenders. Y’all are whooping the hell out of the Warriors. They won four championships and y’all making them look like they’re a G-league team… Y’all are serious contenders.”

The Lakers were indeed ripping the Warriors defense apart, and were barely getting threatened by their tame offense in the absence of Stephen Curry, Kristaps Porzingis, and Jimmy Butler. But Barkley’s assessment, like last time when he lashed out at the Lakers, was reactionary to say the least.

The Warriors did win four titles under Curry, but that was a completely different team. Brandin Podziemski, De’Anthony Melton, and Gui Santos may be fighters and may get wins on the odd night, but they cannot go up against Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves when the Lakers trio is at its best.

In the Lakers’ last game, they lost to the Suns 113-110, and Barkley had ruthlessly said, “I get sick of people talking about they’re contenders. The Lakers are not a good team. I guess we’re contractually obligated to talk about them every day on our network now.”

 

On Sunday, the Lakers play the Sacramento Kings. If, by chance, they lost to one of the worst teams in the West, will Barkley once again go back on his words and start humiliating the Lakers side? If this trend continues, the answer would certainly be yes.

Post Edited By: Samir Mehdi
Charles Barkley Golden State Warriors Los Angeles Lakers

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Somin Bhattacharjee

Basketball Editor Somin Bhattacharjee first discovered the game during the 2014 FIBA World Cup. Not long after, he turned to the NBA and found himself drawn to the Golden State Warriors — right at the start of Stephen Curry’s rise. Over time, the admiration turned into full-blown support for the team, one that continues even as the Curry era approaches its twilight. A true hoophead, Somin also follows EuroLeague basketball closely and enjoys exploring the game beyond the NBA. Though holding a bachelor's degree in marketing, Somin discovered his true calling in writing. Since 2021, he has penned over 3,000 articles for TheSportsRush, covering everything from breaking news to sharp opinion pieces and detailed exclusives. He thrives on writing about in-game moments and the reactions that make basketball a uniquely emotional sport. Beyond basketball, Somin plays different sports including soccer and remains a passionate fan of Spanish football giants Real Madrid

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