Charles Barkley Mocking Lakers Leads Shaquille O’Neal to Hilariously Diss Dream Team

Charles Barkley has made no secret of his dislike for the Los Angeles Lakers. Whether they play well or not, the 63-year-old has criticized the team that has a statue of his colleague, Shaquille O’Neal, outside the arena.

Over the past few years, Barkley has pointed out that the team is not what the world expects. He has repeatedly clarified that they are not a championship-contending team and that the expectation is one of the reasons they struggle to play proper basketball.

Fans have often handed criticism back to the Hall of Famer on a plate, but even then, the ‘Round Mound of Rebound’ does not care. What makes it even more telling is how Charles Barkley does not care about the team’s record, just as it is this month.

The Lakers, we have to talk about them, we are contractually obligated to talk about them.

Charles Barkley said

This was the former league MVP’s response when asked to comment on the Lakers’ recent four wins out of five games run. Then, as he completed his rant about how everyone has to talk about the franchise, Shaquille O’Neal butted in:

They are way better than Charlotte. They are way better than the Dream Team. How about that?

Shaquille O’Neal responded

Charles Barkley: "The Lakers are not a good team. … They're solid. They're not a contender." pic.twitter.com/lya59JmVfv

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) March 8, 2026

‘The Diesel’ was laughing when he was saying this, as even he knew his Inside the NBA colleague was trolling the Los Angeles Lakers. However, he could not give up the chance of dissing Barkley’s new favorite, the Charlotte Hornets, and the 1992 Dream Team, which the latter was a part of.

Charles Barkley does not believe the Lakers are a contender

Even though host Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kenny Smith tried to reason how the Los Angeles Lakers were top six in the Western Conference, Charles Barkley does not believe they are any better.

The Lakers are not a good team… They’re solid. They’re not a contender.

Charles Barkley said

The former Phoenix Suns great felt that the team that plays in purple and gold does not look like a championship contender. He agreed that they are ‘solid’ and could continue to win a lot of games.

But when it comes to being championship capable, Barkley does not believe the Lakers have what it takes to be there. This is the view he has held for a long time, and most of his suggestions stem from the way the team is constructed.

Lakers pull off impressive win over Knicks

These comments from Charles Barkley were before the Los Angeles Lakers went into battle on their home court, the Crypto.com Arena against the visiting New York Knicks.

The home team has not fared well against playoff-contending opponents, and maybe the 11-time All-Star was basing his opinion on that fact. In this game, though, the Lakers turned the tables.

Playing without the injured LeBron James, his teammates started off strong and increased their lead with an impressive all round third-quarter effort. They defended well, took advantage of their spacing, and ensured they had enough to stay ahead.

Then, in the fourth quarter, the Knicks tried to stage a late rally, outscoring the home team in some stretches. Despite that, they were never close enough to threaten the lead.

The Lakers went on to win the game with a score of 110-97. Even though Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves got most of the praise for their combined 60-point effort, it was the team’s defensive performance that led to this win.

The entire team did its part to hold the Knicks to less than 100 points, something that is difficult to do in today’s generation of the NBA.

Also Read:

• Steve Kerr Doesn’t Blame Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for Free Throws, He Blames The NBA Rules
• “That Was a Victory in Itself,” Jaylen Brown Celebrates ‘Brother’ Jayson Tatum’s Return After Grueling Injury