With the Los Angeles Lakers firmly on the outside looking in when it comes to the playoff race, word broke this week that LeBron James could be dialing things back in terms of on-court workload. It remains to be seen as to how much the Lakers will lean on their best player over the final 17 games of the season — beginning with a home tilt against Boston on March 9 — but considering the overwhelming likelihood that the Lakers will not participate in the postseason, James has at least one standing offer to fill his time in April and May.
On Thursday evening, Charles Barkley extended an invitation to James during Inside The NBA and, in short, it was to join the best sports studio show in the business.
Chuck's got an invitation for LeBron… 😂 pic.twitter.com/F5n8XURFEv
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) March 8, 2019
It is quite clear (and further evident from the background laughter) that no one actually expects James to take Barkley up on this offer, even with the caveat that many players have spent time in Atlanta for the same purpose. The full riff is here.
Charles Barkley invites LeBron to Inside The NBA during the playoffs because he;s going to "have nothing better to do" 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/kGvhG2rV3F
— Gifdsports (@gifdsports) March 8, 2019
James is obviously in a different stratosphere than most in terms of fame and, as such, he doesn’t really need to hang out with Chuck, Shaq, Ernie and Kenny for an extended period of time, even if with Barkley’s generous offer to “put (James) up at a good hotel.”
With that said, it would be tremendous if James spent even one night on set with Inside The NBA during the playoffs and the show’s audience would almost certainly spike with interest on what he would say and/or do in that kind of role. In the end, it doesn’t seem likely to happen but leave it to Charles Barkley to make news after 1:00 am ET on an otherwise quiet night in the NBA.
