NBA legend Charles Barkley makes an honest admission about LeBron James

National Basketball Association (NBA) legend Charles Barkley is known for his outspoken views and for never shying away from making his opinions known. The 1993 Most Valuable Player (MVP) has made a bold statement once again.

During an interview with Yahoo Sports, Barkley commented on the situation surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers and their star player LeBron James, who recently confirmed—through his agent and Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul—that he will exercise his $52.6 million player option with the franchise for the 2025–26 NBA season.

Despite James’ continued presence, Barkley claimed that the Lakers’ front office will now look to build the team around Luka Doncic instead of the soon-to-be 40-year-old veteran.

“Well, he is on the downside of his career. It’s Luka’s team going forward,” Barkley said.

The 62-year-old added that the Lakers are well-positioned to make the transition, as LeBron is not only a scorer but also a versatile player who can adapt his game to support Doncic’s rise.

The Lakers are now ‘Luka’s team moving forward’ 👀@jasonfitz and Charles Barkley discuss how L.A. should handle the transition of one generational superstar to another. pic.twitter.com/IW3rqmnD1m

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) July 12, 2025

“It’s easy for LeBron because LeBron can play without the ball. When you’re a great player and they bring in other great players, you have to learn to play without the ball. Luka has a big advantage because Luka has to play with the ball. LeBron is such a great player—he can play without the ball,” he explained.

Despite this development, the Lakers’ management has yet to officially announce James’ decision to opt in. The absence of a formal statement has sparked speculation, with one NBA executive telling Hoops Wire that the situation feels “very strange” and may suggest something unusual is happening behind the scenes.

Even at his age, James continued to perform at an elite level during the 2024–25 season, averaging 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game while shooting 51.3 percent from the field and 37.6 percent from beyond the arc. He was one of only three players—alongside Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic—to average at least 25.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 7.0 assists from December 30 onward.

Although LeBron is nearing the end of his career, there is no doubt he remains the Lakers’ most important player. Additionally, as the most popular NBA figure globally, his commercial value continues to be a major asset off the court.

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