On the first episode of the final season of Inside the NBA, Charles Barkley wasted no time laying into Kenny Smith over his highly debatable Top 50 player rankings. The bone of contention? Smith had the audacity (and perhaps courage) to rank LeBron James second overall, just behind Giannis Antetokounmpo, and ahead of reigning MVP Nikola Jokic. Barkley, never one to hold back, responded with a classic, “Nice try, though,” because, apparently, for Chuck, LeBron doesn’t even crack the top 10 anymore!
Now, let’s get one thing straight: LeBron is still defying Father Time like he’s found some top-secret serum, but at age 39 (with the big 4-0 looming in December), Chuck placing him 11th doesn’t seem that absurd. On the flip side, Kenny’s case for putting LeBron second came down to his argument that “King James” can still dominate in nearly every area of the game. Smith emphasized, “You put that in, and he’s the second-best player in all areas of dominating the game.” According to Kenny, only Giannis stands above LeBron in terms of two-way impact.
The Roast is Served, Courtesy of Chuck
Barkley wasn’t having it. His sharp-tongued humor quickly kicked in as he countered Kenny’s logic, jabbing, “Nice try, though.” Because if there’s anything Barkley enjoys more than golf (or Krispy Kreme), it’s poking holes in Kenny’s takes. And to make things even more dramatic, Chuck left LeBron just outside of his top 10 altogether, ranking him 11th. Jokic, Doncic, and Antetokounmpo led Barkley’s top 3, with other stars like Steph Curry and Joel Embiid rounding out the list. So yeah, LeBron? Not quite Chuck’s king anymore.
Meanwhile, Shaquille O’Neal had a slightly more favorable view of LeBron, ranking him 5th, behind Jokic, Giannis, Doncic, and Curry. And of course, Shaq made sure to sprinkle in a bit of his own humor because no episode of Inside the NBA would be complete without Shaq and Chuck going at each other like siblings fighting over the last slice of pizza.
Kenny’s Top 50: Giannis, LeBron, and… Wait, Shai?
Kenny’s top 10 didn’t just raise eyebrows for putting LeBron second, but also for some other surprising inclusions. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who had a breakout season with the Thunder, landed fourth on his list—yes, fourth, above both Luka Doncic and Joel Embiid. If anything, Kenny deserves credit for stirring the pot, though Chuck would probably say it’s more like overcooking the soup. But hey, bold takes are what fuel the banter that’s made Inside the NBA a fan favorite for decades.
With this being the final season of the iconic show, it’s only fitting that Chuck, Kenny, Shaq, and Ernie Johnson are bringing out the big guns early. Warner Bros. Discovery might be in a legal tussle to retain NBA broadcasting rights, but one thing’s clear—Inside the NBA has left an indelible mark on sports television. And with Barkley vowing never to join another network, we can expect plenty more moments of sarcastic brilliance and offbeat debates in this farewell tour.
So, as the debate over LeBron’s ranking heats up, one thing is for sure: Charles Barkley will keep roasting Kenny Smith every chance he gets. And honestly? We wouldn’t want it any other way.
