Charles Barkley Caught Off-Guard as Austin Reaves Overhears Lakers Rant

Charles Barkley believes the Los Angeles Lakers will not go far in the playoffs.

Charles Barkley Caught Off-Guard as Austin Reaves Overhears Lakers Rant

Austin Reaves and Charles Barkley (Image credits - Firstsportz)

In Short
  • Austin Reaves scored 29 points in his first start in nearly two months, helping the Lakers defeat the Clippers 125-122.
  • Charles Barkley criticized the Lakers' championship potential after the game, stating they are not contenders despite their current record.
  • LeBron James praised Kawhi Leonard's performance, calling him one of the best players ever, while Leonard suffered an ankle injury during the game.

Austin Reaves made his first start in nearly two months as he helped the Los Angeles Lakers make a triumphant return after the All-Star break. In a tight contest between crosstown rivals, the Lakers came out on top and registered a 125-122 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers at the Crypto.com Arena on Friday night.

Still in the midst of a long eight-game home stretch, the win improved the Lakers’ record to 34-21 as they find themselves at fifth place and in contention for a direct playoff qualification. Meanwhile, the Clippers were coming off a hard-fought win over the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night. It was a rare loss for them since the turn of the year as they sit at eight place in the Western Conference standings with a 27-29 record.

Luka Doncic led the scorers with 38 points and 11 assists, while Austin Reaves recorded 29 points. LeBron James posted a double-double as well with 13 points and 11 assists. The 2025-26 campaign has seen Reaves emerge as one of the best offensive players in the NBA. Alongside Doncic and James, the trio have formed one of the best offensive trios in the league.

Former NBA player Charles Barkley was in the headlines not so long ago for calling out ESPN over scheduling issues. The Inside the NBA panelist never shies away from trolling and speaking his mind. Barkley has been critical of the Lakers several times on television and called out the team once again on Friday. Following the win, Barkley said the Lakers are not championship contenders.

They can win a round. I’m not gonna get in there and say [they are contenders] just because they beat a mediocre Clippers team. If they have to play Denver, Houston, OKC or Spurs, they are not going to beat those teams.

Reaves had the headset on and overheard the conversation. When asked what he thought about Barkley’s comments, he said:

Everybody is entitled to their own opinion.

Despite their impressive record, many still do not view the Lakers as championship contenders this season due to their poor defense against young and athletic teams.

Luka Doncic says he would “cook” prime Charles Barkley

There is no doubt that Doncic is the focal point of this team as the Lakers prepare for life in the post-James era. The Slovenian superstar leads the league in scoring and is currently averaging 33 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.6 assists this season.

Following the win, Doncic was asked in his post-match interview how he would fare if he and Charles Barkley faced off in their primes. Doncic said with a smile:

I’ll cook him for sure. I think it would [be a] talk a lot between us. I think we both talk a lot of trash talk. So I think it will be very fun. Happy birthday, Charles.

While Doncic may be one of the most gifted offensive players in modern-day NBA, Barkley was one of the best players in the league in the ’90s. Unfortunately, Chuck ended his career without any NBA championships to his name, which does put a dent on his legacy.

LeBron James on Kawhi Leonard

LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard have clashed multiple times for over a decade. And both players have shown no signs of slowing down in 2026. Leonard has been red hot over the last two months and was at his best on Friday as well.

After the game, James was asked about Leonard in his post-match locker-room interview

LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard
LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard (Image credits – NewsSportGlobe/X)

Kawhi’s awesome, man. He’s the best. He’s one of the best players ever. And I can care less about the injuries. There’s things you can’t control. You only can control the controllables. That guy’s awesome. The type of basketball he has been playing in the last couple of months, he is who he is for a reason.

The two-time champion recorded 31 points, four rebounds, and five assists in 31 minutes of action. But he seemed to have injured his left ankle with five minutes left to the fourth quarter and was ruled out for the rest of the game. The Clippers will be hoping that their star player does not miss too much time, as it would be a huge blow to their postseason ambitions.

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