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LeBron James has been dominating the headlines over the past week for two reasons. One was when he and his Los Angeles Lakers had fans and media giggling at their potential. The other was when he slammed Charles Barkley and Stephen A. Smith for their extreme criticism of current gen players.
Smith addressed those criticisms on First Take immediately, going to the extent of calling James a hypocrite. Even when his colleagues and a former player retorted with facts on how Smith and older members of the media have been unfair to James, Smith held his line.
But the ESPN analyst did not stop from marveling at what the 40-year-old superstar and his Lakers have been doing. He even suggested that the men in purple and gold could go all the way if they kept this intensity up. After listening to all this, Charles Barkley went off on a three-minute rant.
He said the Lakers saved the NBA season. That’s because of them fools at the other network, which we’re going to be working at next year, that’s all they talk about. Let me tell y’all something. First of all, I want all the smoke. I don’t whistle when I walk by the graveyard or anything like that.
Charles Barkley said
The (He) Barkley referred to was Kendrick Perkins . He did not mention his friend Stephen A. Smith but ranted that everyone at ESPN were biased in their conversations surrounding LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Charles Barkley GOES OFF about Lakers/Warriors coverage (and LeBron James/Michael Jordan debates) from "the fools on the other network (ESPN), which we're going to be working for next year." ️☠️ pic.twitter.com/0RyvL0H4ix
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 7, 2025
The Hall of Famer believes the Lakers had two great weeks. That is not enough to harp about them constantly and ignore the other teams who have been great all year. He particularly was annoyed with Perkins for suggesting that the Lakers have saved the NBA.
Kendrick Perkins responds to Charles Barkley
As soon as Charles Barkley finished this rant, clips of it spread online like wildfire. Many were expecting him to speak up, but the crew at Inside the NBA made an entire segment of it. But his particular attack on Kendrick Perkins came to the attention of the former champion.
Hey NBA on TNT might wanna tell that senior citizen Charles Barkley that I’ll be around. When he see an idiot or fool in person make sure he keep that same energy. He can come playing with me if he want to and imma Address his ass like the numbers on a house. Straight from the 409 homeboy and we bar none and fade all.
Kendrick Perkins wrote
The ESPN analyst went all out on Inside the NBA and Charles Barkley. He even went to the extent of almost issuing a challenge to confront Barkley face to face. This restarts the back-and-forth bickering the two had some time back.
Hey @NBAonTNT might wanna tell that senior citizen Charles Barkley that I’ll be around. When he see an idiot or fool in person make sure he keep that same energy. He can come playing with me if he want to and imma Address his ass like the numbers on a house. Straight from the 409…
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) March 7, 2025
But it also brings to the forefront how the two sides disagree on many topics. With ESPN set to air Inside the NBA next season onwards, they have to work together. But this rant from the Hall of Famer just makes that situation something to watch out for in the coming months.
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