The Los Angeles Lakers featured their key trio of Austin Reaves, Luka Doncic, and LeBron James for only the 11th time this season during Friday’s homegame against the LA Clippers, securing a narrow 125-122 victory. This win improved the Lakers’ record to 34-21 and brought them within one game of the Denver Nuggets for the third seed in a highly competitive Western Conference.
Despite the Lakers’ healthy lineup and positive trajectory, former NBA MVP Charles Barkley expressed doubts about their status as serious title contenders. Speaking on ESPN’s Inside the NBA on Friday, Barkley described the Lakers as “mediocre,” discounting their win against the Clippers.
Barkley remarked,
“They maybe can win a round [in the playoffs],”
highlighting skepticism about their postseason prospects. He continued,
“Just because they won, that they beat a mediocre Clippers team, and I know the guys going to go on TV because, you know, they throw them stats out there…When those three guys [Deaves, Doncic, James] play together, they still ain’t going to [contend].”
“If they’re six, seven and eight and they have to play Denver, Houston, or OKC, they’re not going to beat those teams,”
adding,
“I’m not even sure they can beat San Antonio. Let me rephrase it: they can’t beat San Antonio.”
Additionally, Barkley dismissed any chance the Lakers have against the Minnesota Timberwolves, who eliminated Luka Doncic’s team in a clean series sweep during last year’s playoffs.
Austin Reaves Addresses Barkley’s Comments
Austin Reaves, who led the Lakers with 29 points in Friday’s victory, responded to Barkley’s critique shortly before appearing on Inside the NBA. When asked about Barkley’s remarks, Reaves stated,
Image of: Austin Reaves
“Everybody’s entitled to their own opinion,”
maintaining a composed stance.
Regarding how his role shifts when sharing the court with LeBron James and Luka Doncic, Reaves said,
“I don’t really know if it changes much. I just go out there and play the game the right way, and try to support those two guys as much as I can. They’re both great players, and I try to compliment them as much as I can.”
Playoff Outlook and Upcoming Challenges for the Lakers
Last season, the Lakers clinched the third seed following a strong performance after the All-Star break. Analysts suggest that the current Lakers, coached by JJ Redick, might replicate that success, especially as some Western Conference contenders grapple with injuries. For instance, the Nuggets are expected to be without Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson for at least another month, while the Thunder have not set timelines for the returns of All-Stars Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams.
The Lakers are scheduled to host the Boston Celtics on Sunday in a matinee match. Their previous encounter on December 5th ended in a decisive 126-105 win for the Celtics, a game in which both LeBron James and Luka Doncic were sidelined due to injuries.
With the Big 3 now healthy and navigating a challenging Western Conference, the Lakers face a critical stretch that will determine their playoff position and postseason viability.
