Lakers News: Charles Barkley Identifies X-Factor In LA's Title Odds This Year

Los Angeles Lakers center Anthony Davis had a solid season in 2022-23, when he wasn't battling a rash of injuries. He was consistently one of the best defensive big men in the league all year, but on the other side of the court, his production (outside of the post, at least) was significantly more erratic.

During a fun new conversation, Hall of Fame power forward Charles Barkley, now an Emmy-award winning NBA analyst for TNT, told The Ringer's Bill Simmons that he believes that Davis, 30, needs to play at a higher level than ever for LA to build on its Western Conference Finals appearance last spring and return to the NBA Finals in 2024.

"The Lakers aren't close. Now, it's going to be interesting [to see them after] all the stuff they did [in free agency], but as I said last season, it's all going to come down to Anthony Davis," Barkley said. "As much as I love LeBron... [if] Anthony Davis is not an MVP candidate, the Lakers are not going to go anywhere. They got very lucky, they had a great draw in the playoffs, but if Anthony Davis is not an MVP candidate, the Lakers are not going to be close to winning a championship."

"I liked what they did last summer, and I think they're hanging around [the championship conversation]," Simmons said. "I think he's an excellent player, but I just don't see the consistency of being able to do it three nights a week instead of one-and-a-half."

"You've just got to say right now, until he shows us, we're not going to have faith in him," Barkley said. "And it's unfortunate, because like you say, I thought he was going to be the best player in the world but now, we don't even talk about that anymore. We just [talk about], 'Can Anthony Davis stay healthy?'"

"Well you know who didn't ask the question?" Simmons joked. "The Lakers, because they just gave him a giant extension!"

"I was surprised at that," Barkley acknowledged. "Hey, whatever they want to pay you, that's what you're worth."

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