Barkley: LeBron on ‘downside of his career,’ wants to be a Hollywood mogul
– Ask Charles Barkley a question, and he will generally give a loaded answer.
When queried about LeBron James’ recent defection from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Los Angeles Lakers, Barkley opined that James made a lifestyle choice, not a basketball one.
“I look at it strictly as a business decision,” Barkley told SI’s Ben Golliver. “He’s on the downside of his career. He wants to be a big Hollywood mogul. He’s going to be driving by the beach every day instead of going through the snow.”
Barkley also agreed with the conventional wisdom that the Lakers, as currently constituted, are not a top-four team in the Western Conference.
“(They) are not even close to a top-tier team. They’re a five- or six-seed in a best-case scenario,” Barkley said, adding that head coach Luke Walton has his work cut out for him thanks to L.A.’s unorthodox roster construction this summer.
“That’s an impossible scenario for Luke,” Barkley said. “He’s got LeBron who is going to do things his way. He’s got those young kids who are probably in awe of LeBron. He’s got those older guys who are going to try to seek attention. I don’t think Lance (Stephenson) and (Rajon) Rondo are going there to be the ninth or 10th guys on the bench and be quiet all year. They’re going to want touches.”
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