“That Was 100 Years Ago”: Charles Barkley Disregards OKC Experience to Express Significant Doubt Over Clippers Post-Trade Dynamic

Published 10/31/2023, 10:33 PM EDT

The NBA season is upon us, but the drama of the offseason is spilling over. After months of speculation, we finally have a resolution to the situation in Philadelphia. Due to a blockbuster trade weeks in the making, James Harden is finally a member of the Los Angeles Clippers. As a result, it has brought to the forefront discussions about the superstar and its potential consequences. Beginning the conversation, Charles Barkley isn’t fully on board with the new-look Clippers.

His major concern is with the fit between a variety of ball-dominant players on the team. What are the fit issues that led Barkley to do a complete U-turn on his initial LA prediction?

Charles Barkley is highly skeptical of potential LAC superteam

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The crew on Inside the NBA is always ready to offer a unique brand of hilarious but insightful basketball conversation. Due to their experience in the industry, as players or journalists, their analysis tends to hold significant weight. So, it was no different for the ramifications of the Harden trade and his fit alongside Russell Westbrook.

Charles, in particular, was quick to worry. “I think it’s gonna be a wait-and-see – I don’t see how those two guys can play together. They both need the ball.” When Kenny “The Jet” Smith brought up their time with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Barkley was quick to dismiss that argument. “That was 100 years ago. That was a different animal.”

Before people could point to the duo’s time in Houston with the Rockets, the crew was quick to mention the auxiliary pieces. On that Rockets team, Russ and James were the only ball-dominant players. However, the comparison between OKC and the Clippers was more appropriate due to the surrounding pieces. While the Thunder had Kevin Durant, this Clippers team has two equivalents.

“Paul George and Kawhi Leonard are the two best players. These two [Russ and Harden] are going to have to facilitate for those guys…I don’t see him [James Harden] as a standing shooter. Russ is not a great shooter…But, it ain’t gonna be easy.”

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Moving along, Charles was quick to call to attention the varying strength between the two Conferences to choose a winner of the trade. That was a far cry from his prediction at the start of the season when he had Los Angeles as a bonafide contender.

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The James Harden Trade causes a change in Charles Barkley’s Clippers projection

On opening night, Chuckster was quick to label the Steve Balmer-owned team as a true contender in the West. While discussing the Golden State Warriors, the 60-year-old had them at the bottom of the list of teams from California. According to Chuck, the Lakers, Clippers, and the Sacramento Kings were all in better positions to succeed.

However, today he’s singing a different tune. While discussing the victor of the trade, the strength of the West made Barkley question the Clippers’ chances. “Every series in the West gonna be a dog fight.” His analysis was sober enough to even make Shaquille O’Neal, usually against him on every matter, agree with his assessment.

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Could the Clippers be in trouble? What do you think of the Harden trade? Let us know in the comments below.

Brewing With Equal Skepticism, Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley Unconvinced of $87 Million James Harden Trade

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My earliest memories of a connection to basketball was through its popularity in my school. Eventually, that gave way to a genuine passion for the sport and the rest, is history. Whether it be gameplay, the tactics, the narratives, or the sheer art on display, the game speaks to me in a way few other things can.

Edited by:

Aayush Kapoor

“That Was 100 Years Ago”: Charles Barkley Disregards OKC Experience to Express Significant Doubt Over Clippers Post-Trade Dynamic

Charles Barkley is highly skeptical of potential LAC superteam

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The James Harden Trade causes a change in Charles Barkley’s Clippers projection