Without explicitly saying it, the Los Angeles Lakers are giving up on their very unlikely playoff chances by putting LeBron James on a minutes restriction and possibly keeping him from playing back-to-backs.
Somewhat similar to how the internet reacted to that news, the Inside the NBA crew interpreted this as the Lakers admitting it’s not happening for them in 2019.
And, of course, Charles Barkley had jokes.
“Can’t he get rest when the playoffs start?” Chuck asked with LeBron’s late spring likely being free for the first time in years. Eventually, Barkley’s train of thought led him to wonder: “You think we can get him on the show?”
When Kenny Smith, Ernie Johnson and Shaquille O’Neal brushed Barkley’s suggestion off, he ignored them and turned to the camera to address LeBron directly with his pitch:
“Since you gonna have some free time once the playoffs start, I’ve got a seat for you. The first weekend of the playoffs, you can stay. We’ll put you up at a good hotel, we’ll get you a first-class ticket. We want you. We always bring players in for the playoffs. You’re not going to be busy during the playoffs, so I’m inviting you here.”
Realizing the ridiculousness of Barkley’s pitch that was inviting yet hilariously insulting, Shaq offered to do LeBon a favor:
“LeBron, you have my number. Shoot me a text, I’ll send you my bank account number if you want me to knock him out for you.”
As the Inside the NBA crew then congratulated James on passing Michael Jordan this week for fourth place on the all-time scoring list. And then Chuck made one last attempt to lure LeBron to the set.
“Congratulations on passing MJ, but please come to the studio for the playoffs. You’ve got nothing else to do!” Barkley said.
