NBA legend Charles Barkley recently expressed his skepticism about the Dallas Mavericks’ chances of winning the NBA championship this year, calling their impressive run to the Finals last season a “fluke.”
During an episode of Inside the NBA, Barkley shared his thoughts on the Mavericks’ prospects, suggesting that their success last year was more of an anomaly than a sign of true contention.
Barkley, known for his candid and often controversial opinions, pointed out that while the Mavericks had a remarkable journey to the Finals, it was largely driven by standout performances from Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving. He argued that relying heavily on two players might not be sustainable in the long run, especially against stronger and more balanced teams.
“I think they’re a middle-of-the-road team in the Western Conference. I think they got lucky last year because of match-ups. Everything worked out perfectly. But this year, I think Phoenix is better, New Orleans is gonna be better, the Lakers are going to be solid, Memphis is going to be good, I think Dallas is a bottom of the West, six, seven, or eight seed. They’re going to be somewhere around there this year.”
Chuck on the Mavs: “I think they got lucky last year because of matchups… I think Dallas is a bottom of the West 6, 7 or 8 seed.” 👀 pic.twitter.com/Bo5KyigOLN
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) October 25, 2024
Despite Barkley’s doubts, the Mavericks have made significant moves in the offseason to bolster their roster, aiming to address the very concerns he raised.
As the new NBA season unfolds, all eyes will be on the Mavericks to see if they can defy Barkley’s predictions and make another deep playoff run.
