As the shorthanded Lakers prove themselves the underdogs of the postseason, Charles Barkley identified two players responsible for it. Obviously it’s not Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves who haven’t been able to log postseason minutes yet. It’s the players most cynics had the least expectations from. Without the two playmakers, expectations from an aging LeBron James were rock bottom. Most prominently, Chuck didn’t believe the Los Angeles Lakers had a supporting cast that could fill the void without Doncic and Reaves. Three games, he was proven wrong.

Between Game 2 and 3 of the Rockets-Lakers series, while LA had the 2-0 lead against all odds, Sir Charles was on ESPN’s Sedano & Kap Morning Show. Before the Lakers extended that lead to 3-0 in a 108-112 OT win, he identifed the first of two primary catalysts for the upset.

“Going back to how LeBron has controlled the series with his brain,” Barkley remarked. “I said, ‘Well, number one, he’s 41. I don’t know if he can play an entire game and getting 40 points,'” Barkley said about LeBron James, emphasizing his decision to facilitate rather than dominate the scoring early in games has unlocked the Lakers’ secondary weapons. “I said, ‘I would come out and pass the ball and get all these other guys going.’ And man, his brain…”

Salivating over Bron’s brain aside, Barkley noted that the most “glaring” advantage in the series has not been raw athleticism, but the mental superiority of 41-year-old LeBron James. “His brain is to me has probably been the most glaring thing,” he said again to double down on how it’s helping his teammates.

One of those “other guys” has left Barkley particularly stunned. It’s the Lakers’ mid-season acquisition Luke Kennard. The sharpshooter, who the Lakers brought in from Atlanta in February, has become a postseason revelation. “Let me tell you something, that boy Kennard, man, he might be the best shooter in the NBA today,” Barkley declared. “He’s played great.”

Kennard has been the most consistent shooter in the rotation with or without Doncic in the mix. Kennard had a slight dip in points in Game 3, making 14 points, but made up for it with 6 rebounds and assists each, more than what he had in the first two games combined.

With a reliable scorer in Kennard and Bron’s leadership, Chuckster feels, has helped the roleplayers, Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart step up their game too. But again, to Chuck, “It’s all about LeBron’s brain. He’s just been controlling the series.” (Anymore brain-talk and Barkley could be cast in Walking Dead.)

Charles Barkley credits the LeBron James-Luka Kennard combination for dominating Rockets

You can see why Charles Barkley, who had very little faith in the Lakers’ underdog abilities, changed his mind. The Lakers’ 2-0 start, winning Game 1 (107–98) and Game 2 (101–94), felt statistically improbable given the absence of superstar Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves’ combined scoring punch. Until then, no one knew how the Lakers’ b-team and LeBron James could make up the volume of points after the inconsistencies of the roleplayers.

However, Kennard has arguably been the MVP of the series’ opening act. In Game 1, he exploded for a career playoff-high 27 points on a perfect 5-of-5 from three-point range. He followed that up in Game 2 with 23 points, providing the gravity needed for Marcus Smart (25 points in Game 2) and Deandre Ayton to dominate the interior.

Kennard’s efficiency has forced Rockets coach Ime Udoka into defensive rotations that focus on him. That’s left the lane wide open for LeBron James to drive.

Conversely, Barkley was critical of the Rockets’ lack of imagination, noting that their offense has devolved into “give the ball to Kevin Durant… and let him go one-on-one.” Note: he’s referring to Game 2 where Kevin Durant was medically cleared to play. He was ruled out in Game 1 and 3.

While Chuck is prepared for Doncic and Reaves taking over eventually, his assessment is clear: the Lakers may be older and battered, yet they are currently winning the war of the minds.