Charles Barkley Predicts LeBron James’ Lakers Sweeping Kevin Durant’s Rockets

No one envisioned LeBron James and his Los Angeles Lakers to take a 3-0 lead in their first-round clash against Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets.

Rather, almost every analyst and fan had the latter sweeping the men in purple and gold. Most felt that the Lakers would last five games, while a few believed they could get another win.

Even then, everyone of them agreed that the injuries to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves were too great to overcome. Then, the tide changed.

James has led his band of glorified role players to be the only team in the 2026 playoffs to have won every single game. Now, the tide has changed, and the pressure is on the Rockets to make something out of it and avoid embarrassment.

This series is over, man. This is a sweep. It’s a wrap. They are going to go 1, 2, 3, Cancun first thing tomorrow.

Charles Barkley said

The Hall of Famer was responding to a question from Inside the NBA host Ernie Johnson about Austin Reaves’ potential return in Game 4. Charles Barkley felt that, given the way the Lakers are playing, it is senseless to bring the undrafted guard back into the lineup.

Charles Barkley on the Lakers vs Rockets game 4:

"This series over man. This is a sweep. It's a wrap. 1, 2, 3 cancun first thing tomorrow" pic.twitter.com/ADdleyIJ0g

— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) April 26, 2026

He believes the LeBron James-led Lakers will sweep the Rockets anyway. Therefore, it makes no sense to rush Reaves now, especially with the way the two teams are playing.

Without Kevin Durant in Game 4, LeBron James and his Lakers should have it easy

Some naysayers might claim that LeBron James and his Los Angeles Lakers have had it easy without Kevin Durant leading the Houston Rockets. But the 41-year-old has done his part to win back some of his strongest critics.

His performances in the final three games of the regular season and the three games in these playoffs have re-established his reputation as one of the best players in the league.

At the same time, others have been calling out Durant, especially after his atrocious second half of Game 2. But now, those narratives have changed, and it is the younger Rockets who are facing the heat.

Even their head coach called them out for blowing Game 3, which was already in their hands. Now, in Game 4, they will have to go at the Lakers by themselves, as Kevin Durant has been ruled out due to injury, again.

Despite playing in 78 of the Rockets’ 82 regular-season games, the injury bug has caught up to the 16-time All-Star at the worst possible moment.

Houston's Kevin Durant is expected to miss Game 4 against the Los Angeles Lakers, sources tell ESPN. Durant has a bone bruise in his sprained ankle, which would sideline him 2 to 3 weeks in season. He's had around-the-clock treatment to play but has not been cleared by doctors. pic.twitter.com/DpOdclPEAw

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 26, 2026

The knee that he suffered before the start of this playoff series usually requires quite some time to recover. On top of that, as Shams Charania revealed, the Slim Reaper has also suffered a bone bruise in his ankle.

Steve Kerr places LeBron James over Michael Jordan

With Kevin Durant struggling with injuries and Stephen Curry out early in the play-in, NBA fans are left to watch LeBron James lead the charge of the veteran superstars.

LeBron’s brilliance doesn’t lie in the same skill set that Michael’s did. It lies in more of a holistic game where he dominates with his pace, and his athleticism, and his passing… I think he’s literally the greatest athlete on the face of the planet and in the course of human history.

Steve Kerr told The New Yorker

The Warriors’ head coach has played and won titles alongside Michael Jordan, and reiterated to the publication that his killer instinct is beyond comprehension.

But at the same time, Steve Kerr has coached and schemed his players against James numerous times. After watching all that up close, the 60-year-old made it clear that the Lakers’ superstar is just different.

Also Read:

• Nikola Jokic Doesn’t Regret Confronting Jaden McDaniels Which Led to On-Court Brawl
• Jaden McDaniels Shrugs Off Nikola Jokic Reaction After Heated Nuggets Finish