Charles Barkley Doubts LeBron James Will End His Career With Lakers

LeBron James' future with the Los Angeles Lakers is in doubt after recent revelations about his relationship with the top brass.

Charles Barkley Doubts LeBron James Will End His Career With Lakers

LeBron James and Charles Barkley (Image via FirstSportz)

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The next stop on LeBron James and his Los Angeles Lakers’ eight-game road trip was a game against his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers, whom he remarkably led to their first-ever NBA championship back in 2016.

After an ESPN article came out detailing franchise governor Jeanie Buss‘ apparent unhappiness with how the “King” and his team have been lapping up all the credit for the Lakers’ success, there are questions being asked about his future.

The cast of Inside the NBA had their first opportunity to publicly comment on this development, and when Ernie Johnson asked Charles Barkley if he expected the four-time champion to continue playing beyond this season, he replied:

There’s one thing I’m sure of, this is his last year with the Lakers. He’s not going to play with the Lakers next year. I’ve always said I’d like to see him finish in Cleveland. I’m not opposed to him getting traded to Cleveland this year.

Charles Barkley said

The Hall of Famer claimed that two aspects will stop LeBron James from continuing to wear the purple and gold after this season. One is the drama that has surfaced recently.

The second is that it is not sensible of any team to pay their third-best player $53 million a year. They would rather invest that money in multiple players, as recent championship-winning teams have done.

Barkley would like the Akron native to return home with the Cleveland Cavaliers, as that would be the best farewell season James can expect, given the current scenario.

Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith see LeBron James playing at least one more season

Charles Barkley was essentially speaking about whether LeBron James would play for the Los Angeles Lakers next season. In no way did he indicate that the 41-year-old would retire, as did his colleagues.

I don’t think his retirement is this year, only because he is super productive still at this stage of his career… All of the things that point to one more year are happening.

Kenny Smith said

The ‘Jet’ believes that every sign so far has given enough indication that James would like to, and can continue to play at a high level. Hearing this, host Ernie Johnson asked Shaquille O’Neal if LeBron James knows at this stage how many years he wants to keep playing.

I don’t think he knows… Three more years from now, no. Two more years, maybe. But one more year, definitely. LeBron is very calculated in the things he does. The whole world would know when it’s his last year. Him and his team they’d probably want the farewell for LeBron.

Shaquille O’Neal replied

The Diesel believes that when his former Cavaliers teammate understands if he wants to stop, unlike that offseason liquor commercial, every single person associated with or watching the NBA would come to know.

Cavs open to LeBron James reunion

Charles Barkley did not mention a potential return for LeBron James to the Cleveland Cavaliers just out of the blue. Every time the superstar was mentioned in trade rumors, going back home was always mentioned as one of the most legitimate options.

Cleveland would love to have LeBron James back
Cleveland would love to have LeBron James back (Image via Destination Cleveland/X)

Now that his career is again drowned in uncertainty, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin has been gathering intel over the course of the season and detailed it in his latest article about the Lakers’ superstar.

Multiple team and league sources told ESPN the Cavaliers would gladly welcome James back this summer if he wanted to return to Cleveland for his 24th NBA season and third stint with the team.

Dave McMenamin wrote

This means the four-time league MVP has the option of returning home if he wants. The Lakers have given him the option of retiring with them. But given the current scenario, maybe the Cavaliers will be more welcoming.

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