Charles Barkley’s recent rant about ESPN, particularly targeting Kendrick Perkins, highlights a real issue: ESPN tends to focus heavily on star-driven narratives, particularly around Steph Curry, LeBron James, and the Lakers/Warriors. While this isn’t new—Michael Jordan dominated media coverage in his prime—there’s a growing debate about whether ESPN’s approach is actually hurting the NBA.
I’ve been watching ESPN since I was seven, and while they’ve always shaped the basketball conversation, their current approach feels more about entertainment value than balanced analysis. TNT’s NBA crew—Charles, Shaq, Kenny, and Ernie—does a great job covering all teams while still embracing drama and debate. They rarely engage in endless GOAT discussions or overhype certain teams while ignoring others.
Right now, ESPN is locked in on the Lakers and Warriors, and as Charles pointed out, their dominance in media discussions has gone beyond a few weeks—it’s been a full month since Luka Doncic was traded to the Lakers and Jimmy Butler landed with the Warriors. These moves completely changed the landscape, helping the Lakers jump from 6th to 2nd under JJ Redick’s coaching, and the Warriors climb from 11th to 6th. If they keep winning, they are playoff locks.
The bigger story? The Lakers will likely avoid the play-in tournament for the first time in years, and the Warriors are also making a strong return to postseason contention. Given that these franchises were dominant in the early 2010s, their resurgence is a huge narrative—especially with a potential Lakers vs. Celtics Finals showdown in play.
But what about Cleveland and OKC?
Both teams are having incredible seasons but are barely getting coverage. The Cavaliers, led by Donovan Mitchell, have put together multiple 8+ game winning streaks and boast one of the NBA’s best offenses. Meanwhile, the Thunder, led by MVP frontrunner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, are one of the best defensive teams in NBA history.
These teams weren’t built through flashy superstar trades—they were built from the ground up. Cleveland made a smart move trading for Donovan Mitchell, but beyond that, both teams developed their talent through the draft. Compare that to the Lakers and Warriors, where big-name acquisitions define their recent success.
I agree with Charles Barkley: ESPN should talk more about these dominant conference leaders. However, I also understand ESPN’s business model. They follow ratings, and if the Luka and Butler trades are boosting viewership, it makes sense that they lean into it.
What’s going to be even more interesting is how this affects ESPN and TNT’s upcoming transition. Barkley’s comments definitely rubbed ESPN analysts the wrong way, with Stephen A. Smith already responding—and Kendrick Perkins likely firing back. This could set up some Shannon Sharpe vs. Skip Bayless-style debates when TNT’s crew officially joins ESPN next year.
So, was Charles right or wrong? I’d say he’s right in principle—Cleveland and OKC deserve way more coverage. But ESPN knows what sells, and for now, that’s the Lakers and Warriors.
The real question is: Will ESPN evolve when TNT’s crew joins, or will they double down on their star-focused approach?
Either way, next season’s media landscape will be one of the most entertaining in years—on and off the court.
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