LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers won their season opener, which means Charles Barkley’s favorite ESPN morning shows were ruined.
Barkley hating on the Lakers, and especially ESPN’s love affair with the Lakers, is a tale as old as time. And with the NBA on TNT launching its final season Tuesday night, Barkley quickly jumped at his first opportunity to mock ESPN’s Lakers coverage.
After the defending champion Boston Celtics destroyed the New York Knicks 132-109 on opening night, Barkley was forced to watch the Lakers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 110-103 on TNT.
“The only thing bad, I gotta listen to those dudes on ESPN talk about how the Lakers are contenders.” Charles Barkley pic.twitter.com/NnhqK3OSvf
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 23, 2024
“You know, I’m in a good mood,” Barkley told Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal toward the end of their season opener. “Boston’s been great. The only thing bad, I gotta listen to those dudes on ESPN talk about how the Lakers are contenders tomorrow. And they’re gonna be the No. 9 seed just like they always are…they’re gonna beat a dead horse tomorrow. They’re gonna be like, ‘the Lakers are contenders, the Lakers are contenders!’”
O’Neal, who has obvious interest in the Lakers’ success, was quick to point out the team he won three titles with is “at the top of the West right now” before he accused Barkley of being a “Laker hater.”
“I’m not a Laker hater,” Barkley argued. “I just hate when we gas these teams up and they ain’t no good.”
At this point, the only thing more predictable than ESPN relishing every opportunity to talk about LeBron and the Lakers, is Barkley complaining that ESPN relishes every opportunity to talk about LeBron and the Lakers.
Nobody is going to make the Lakers out to be title favorites after one win. But you better believe those dudes on ESPN are going to talk about the Lakers. They’re going to talk about JJ Redick’s coaching debut, they’re going to talk about LeBron James, they’re going to talk about Bronny James, and they’re going to dream about how long the Lakers can stay relevant for this season. Because much like Barkley’s bosses at TNT love when the Lakers are relevant, ESPN relishes it too.
