“I’m 100 years old” – LeBron James to DEMAND Anthony Davis to carry Lakers to NBA title, predicts Charles Barkley

Charles Barkley wants LeBron James to urge Anthony Davis to become the Franchise player to chase another ring.

“I’m 100 years old” – LeBron James to DEMAND Anthony Davis to carry Lakers to NBA title, predicts Charles Barkley

Charles Barkley (L), LeBron James (R) (via Imago)

Lebron James became the face of the Los Angeles Lakers ever since he signed with them in the free agency of 2018. He departed from the Cleveland Cavaliers after their defeat in the 2018  NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors. After a disappointing 2018-19 season with the Lakers, they traded for Anthony Davis to bounce back. With LeBron and AD on the court, they won the 2020 championship.

The Lakers heavily relied on LeBron James even after trading for Davis because AD couldn’t maintain consistency game to game. With Lebron well into his late 30s, the franchise hoped AD would become the franchise player. Even in the 2022 playoffs, LeBron had to drop 40 points with an injured foot to help the Lakers be competitive against the Nuggets. On the other hand, AD couldn’t compete against Nikola Jokic.

YouTube video

Many have criticized Anthony Davis for his lack of consistency on the court. Charles Barkley remains the biggest critic of Davis in the sports media. Barkley tried to urge LeBron to ask Davis to take the reins of the franchise from him and ask him to be the best player on the team. At some point, LeBron will need Davis to step up to chase his fifth ring. 

FS Video

On Bill Simmons podcast, Barkley said, “At some point LeBron gonna have to say, ‘AD… Damn… I’m 100 years old. It’s about time for you to be the best player.” The Lakers have added crucial pieces during the off-season. They could contend for the title in the upcoming season with Anthony Davis in prime form.

Also Read: Damian Lillard being USED by Trail Blazers despite showing loyalty to franchise and being let down, claims NBA insider

LeBron James and Anthony Davis primed for a championship run

After the 2020 Championship season, the Los Angeles Lakers lost in the first round against the Phoenix Suns next season. They traded for Russell Westbrook, hoping to form a dominant big three. However, it sent their team into turmoil. The Lakers finished 11th in the Conference next season and started 2-10 this past season.

LeBron James and Anthony Davis primed for a championship run
LeBron and AD after the 2020 Championship (via NBA.com)

If it weren’t for the trades made by Rob Pelinka at the deadline, the Lakers wouldn’t have reached the Western Conference finals. Now, they have added more players to their Western Conference Finalist team, which makes them serious title contenders. The development of Austin Reaves could help the Lakers in the upcoming season.

The trades made by GM Rob Pelinka over the past season and this off-season make the Lakers a formidable opponent for any team. Now, they don’t have to over-rely on their stars and their role players could be given a chance to shine and help them cruise through the regular season. This will allow LeBron to take a lesser role and save his best for the playoffs.

In Case You Missed: