"The Lakers stink, the Warriors are mediocre": Charles Barkley picks his bunch from a wild Western Conference
Charles Barkley weighed in on how the LA Lakers, Golden State Warriors, OKC Thunder and other Western Conference teams are doing this season. Roughly three months into the competition, the Thunder top the conference with an 18-5 record before their NBA Cup game on Tuesday against the Dallas Mavericks. The West is poised to be another tightly contested battle for playoff seedings.
Barkley had this to say on "Inside the NBA" on Tuesday about how the expected Western Conference contenders have been playing:
“This team [Thunder] is the clear favorite to win the West easily right now. My [Phoenix] Suns, they can’t get healthy, the Wild Card is Memphis [Grizzlies], the [LA] Lakers stink, the [Golden State] Warriors are mediocre. This team is the best in the West by far. Houston’s too young. They’re not ready for the deep water yet.”
The OKC Thunder remained atop the West despite suffering a slew of injuries to start the season. At one point, they had to use 6-foot-6 Jalen Williams at center and 6-foot-5 Alex Caruso at power forward because of their decimated frontline. Chet Holmgren and Jaylin Williams are still sidelined, but the Thunder got Isaiah Hartenstein, Kenrich Williams and Branden Carlsen.
The Warriors briefly topped the West before a five-game losing streak dropped them to fifth in their conference. LeBron James and Co. started 3-0 but eventually stuttered to eighth place with a 13-11 win-loss card. The Memphis Grizzlies are second in their conference with a 17-8 mark and could push Oklahoma if they stay healthy.
Charles Barkley is confident the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander-led Thunder can sustain their form to win the West this season.
Charles Barkley predicted OKC Thunder to win 2025 NBA Finals
Charles Barkley’s recent take on the OKC Thunder is not something new. He has been bullish about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s team right from the start. He had this to say on "Inside the NBA" back in October about Oklahoma’s chances of winning the championship:
“I don’t like them Ernie [Johnson], I love them. They got it all, they got a superstar right there in Shai. The thing I liked about them is that they addressed their weaknesses by getting Caruso and Hartenstein.
"We need a bigger body for the Joker, for Anthony Davis, people like that. I don’t think this team doesn’t go to the Finals, I think they’re gonna win the championship," he added.
"SGA" is again playing like an MVP, Jalen Williams is having a career year and Isaiah Harstenstein and Alex Caruso have been what the doctor ordered for the Thunder. If they stay healthy, Charles Barkley might be proven right.
Do you think the Oklahoma City Thunder can win the championship this season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.