“This is why he hates Lakers” – Charles Barkley’s ‘Showtime’ revelation leaves fans shocked

Charles Barkley recounted a story of his potential trade to the Los Angeles Lakers which put his dislike for the team in context.

“This is why he hates Lakers” – Charles Barkley’s ‘Showtime’ revelation leaves fans shocked

Charles Barkley called out for Lakers hate

For years, Charles Barkley has remained one of the loudest critics of the Los Angeles Lakers. Whether it’s questioning their roster moves, calling out star players, or dismissing their championship hopes, Barkley has never shied away from taking jabs at the franchise. But as it turns out, his disdain for the Lakers may have deeper roots than just objective and some subjective basketball analysis.

In a recent episode of The Steam Room podcast with Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley shared a stunning revelation about a failed trade that would have sent him to the Lakers back in his playing days. While discussing near-trades from his career, Barkley revealed that he actually believed he was heading to Los Angeles, only for the deal to fall apart at the last moment.

I got traded to the Lakers. True story. I get a call one morning from my agent: ‘Hey, the Sixers finally pulled the trigger.’ I got traded to the Lakers. And I’m like, ‘damn, thank you, it’s about time, can’t wait.’ So, I get my friends together … and we get blasted. We get blasted, Ernie. … About 3 a.m., my agent calls me: ‘The Sixers pulled out the deal.’ I was so mad.

Charles Barkley recounted on The Steam Room podcast
YouTube video

Charles Barkley didn’t specify when the trade discussions took place. The rebound specialist played for the Sixers from 1984-1992, earning four All NBA First Team in the process. However, he couldn’t help the team win the NBA championship.

FS Video

Given that Barkley was eventually dealt to the Phoenix Suns in 1992, it’s possible the Lakers saw him as a potential successor to Magic Johnson, who had retired the previous year. Instead, Chuck ended up in Phoenix, where he won the league MVP in 1993 and led the Suns to the NBA Finals.

Fans connect dots for Charles Barkley’s anti-Laker rants

While he went on to have a Hall of Fame career, the sting of that missed opportunity seems to have left a lasting impact. Charles Barkley admitted that he was “so mad” when the trade fell through, and fans now believe this moment explains his long-standing hostility toward the Lakers. Chuck’s revelation quickly went viral, with Ice Cube’s son, O’Shea Jackson Jr., taking a dig at the veteran analyst as well.

While Barkley has never explicitly stated that his Lakers criticism stems from this failed trade, fans, mockingly perhaps, see his comments in a different light. Fans felt the Round Mound of Rebound would not mock ‘Lakeshow’ as he currently does had he been a member of the vaunted purple and gold, especially with the fraternity that comes with such a franchise.

Had Barkley joined the Lakers, the course of NBA history might have changed. Instead of facing off against Jordan in the 1993 Finals as a member of the Suns, he could have led the Lakers squad looking for its next championship run post-Magic era. The idea of Barkley playing alongside James Worthy in the early 1990s is definitely a ‘what if’ that might sting some Laker fans.