‘Better than people realize’ – Charles Barkley compares Luka Doncic’s 2026 LA Lakers to 2024 Dallas Mavericks

Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers are being underestimated by the NBA world, but Charles Barkley suggests they could make it all the way to the Finals.

The Los Angeles Lakers retooled their entire roster this offseason, building around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves after the departure of LeBron James.

Considering the impact of LeBron leaving after eight seasons, and that the Lakers ‘overpaid’ to get center Walker Kessler according to some, the criticism has been loud.

But Charles Barkley isn’t having it, he thinks this Lakers team will be a lot more special than people are giving them credit for.

Luka Doncic’s most successful season was when he led the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals in 2024. He had Kyrie Irving by his side, with PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford also playing major roles.

That Mavs team is widely considered the benchmark of how to build around Doncic, and Barkley thinks that LA has managed to hit that benchmark.

Charles Barkley thinks the 2026-27 Lakers are probably better than the 2024 Finals Mavs:

“I really want to see the Lakers do well.

First of all, I’m a big Luka fan, a big Austin Reaves fan. I think they’re gonna be better than people realize. Luka and Kyrie took the Mavs to the…

“I really want to see the Lakers do well,” Barkley said. “First of all, I’m a big Luka fan, a big Austin Reaves fan. I think they’re gonna be better than people realize.

“Luka and Kyrie took the Mavs to the Finals, come on, man. This team is probably better; this team is probably just as good as that team.”

While the NBA discourse may be scanting the Lakers, it’s hard to agree that they are better than that Mavs team. Regardless, the point stands. Luka and his new team might surprise a lot of fans this year.

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