“If LeBron James is able to beat KD, Harden and Kyrie, the GOAT conversation will become serious”: Charles Barkley lays down ground rules for the Lakers star challenging Michael Jordan for GOAT status

Charles Barkley is on the same boat as most of us in the GOAT debate. He’s waiting for LeBron James to beat KD and co to have that conversation.

It’s been a long time since LeBron James was considered NOT a contender in the NBA. 14 consecutive seasons in the playoffs and 10 Finals appearances tend to have that impact on your image.

James is again considered one of the contenders as the Lakers head into the playoffs this time around. The Lakers were de facto favorites last time around, but this year is quite different. They can no longer claim to be the most talented team in the NBA.

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This is because the Brooklyn Nets have emerged as the NBA’s newest powerhouse with a Big 3. Brooklyn traded for James Harden and acquired him from the Houston Rockets at the cost of a billion draft picks.

The trade seems to have worked out great for the team. They’re up from 7th in the Conference at the early stages of the season to now finishing as the 2nd seeds.

Charles Barkley will take the LeBron James GOAT conversation more seriously with a title this year

Another year, another playoff gauntlet in the West. This year, the Western Conference has once again become a real gauntlet to go through. The 7th-seeded Lakers sit at a record of 42-30, which would’ve been good enough for 4th in the East.

They’re set to face the second-seeded Phoenix Suns in the first round. Though LeBron and his Lakers are currently -110 favorites, they still don’t have homecourt advantage. This isn’t going to change in latter rounds either.

Charles Barkley is of the belief that LeBron James deserves serious consideration for GOAT if he wins it all this year.

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Now Stephen A may not like this POV, but it’s the truth. Beating a team with KD, Kyrie and Harden, should they meet, would bolster LeBron’s resume more than anything else in his 18-year career. This would even overshadow his 2016 accomplishment.