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“Brought Out the Retirement Shit”: Charles Barkley Berates LeBron James and Lakers in Support of the Nuggets, Making NBA Fans Rant

Published 05/24/2023, 9:10 AM EDT

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The Los Angeles Lakers had a pretty impressive season this year. While starting their season off, the Lakers were one of the lowest-seeded teams. As the season progressed, the Lakers were able to turn things around, even defeating the Golden State Warriors in the matchup with them. They were able to maintain their momentum until their matchup with the Denver Nuggets. Alas, the Lakers struggled to stay afloat against the Nuggets and the Nuggets ended up sweeping them.

However, with their loss, it was time for the Denver Nuggets to shine. In a surprising turn of events, LeBron James hinted that he might be leaving the league. Unfortunately, following this, all media attention went to LeBron James & Co, stealing the spotlight from Denver Nuggets. Due to this, Charles Barkley recently launched a scathing attack on the Lakers while expressing his support for the Denver Nuggets. Fans chimed in as well.

Charles Barkley goes on a full-on rant

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LeBron James was questioned by the media about his outlook on the season thus far after his team’s dismal loss in Game 4 against the Nuggets. The four-time NBA champion responded by sharing his feelings and giving an insight into his personal experience. However, as the interview drew to a close, he left the audience with a sense of ambiguity, suggesting that he is contemplating his own future in the game of basketball.

He said, “We’ll see what happens going forward. But I don’t know, I don’t know. I’ve got a lot to think about, to be honest. I’ve got a lot to think about, to be honest, just for me personally going forward with the game of basketball. A lot to think about.” This shifted the focus on him and his team.

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A feat that went unnoticed by many was that Nikola Jokic accomplished an astounding feat that had been unachievable for more than 50 years. He broke a long-standing NBA record in addition to winning the prized MVP award in the Western Conference finals. Jokic surpassed Wilt Chamberlain’s record of seven triple-doubles set in 1967 by recording his eighth triple-double of the postseason during the Denver Nuggets’ victory.

Meanwhile, Charles Barkley was infuriated by the lack of media coverage of the Denver Nuggets, who emerged as the Western Conference victors.

In a recent episode of ‘NBA on TNT’, he said, “I was so mad this morning I actually turned the TV off. Because the Denver Nuggets sweep, get to the finals for the first time… We all love LeBron, he didn’t say he was retired yet… But it should’ve been all about the Denver Nuggets.”

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Barkley was disappointed that a mere mention of LeBron James potentially retiring from the league shifted all the attention on him. Along with his rant, he also gave honorable mentions to Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Michael Porter.

NBA World in support of Barkley’s rant

Charles Barkley’s passionate rant resonated with many fans. They took to Twitter to share what they thought about the same. A fan tweeted, “Right Lebron knew what he was doing when he brought out the retirement shit, and now all the media is talking about him and not the Denver Nuggets sweeping the Lakers.”

Other reactions include:

Fans believe that Nuggets should get the rightful recognition it deserves.

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Now that the Denver Nuggets have progressed into the finals, things are about to get heated up. They will face the victor of the matchup between the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat.

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Watch This Story: “He Had a Lot of Help”: Moments After Nikola Jokic Dismantles LeBron James and AD, Lakers Legend Magic Johnson Reacts to Nail-Biting Game 1 of WCF 2023

Who are you rooting for? Let us know in the comments below!

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Written by:

Ranjitha Ramesh

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Ranjitha Ramesh is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports. With a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication, Ranjitha has a strong foundation in reporting and writing. Her passion for basketball, particularly the Lakers and LeBron James, fuels her desire to delve into the lifestyle and off-court activities of NBA stars.
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Edited by:

Aayush Kapoor