Charles Barkley recently raised alarms for Los Angeles Lakers Nation, questioning LeBron James’ stamina ahead of Wednesday’s high-stakes Game 5 at Crypto.com Arena. Barkley leaned in favor of the Houston Rockets despite the Lakers holding a 3-1 series lead

Speaking during the pre-game show, the Sixers legend warned that Game 5 is a “must-win” for the Lakers. He argued that failing to close out the series could prove costly, forcing a Game 7 back in LA. Barkley pointed directly at James’ workload as the concern.

“LeBron, as great as he is, his numbers are going down, which tells me he's starting to get tired because he has to do so much. I think he's a great enough player. He realized, like, ‘I better put all my eggs in this one basket tonight.”

James’ numbers back part of that concern. He averaged 25.3 ppg across the first three games but saw a drastic dip in Game 4, finishing with just 10 points on a questionable 22.2% shooting.

While the drop may highlight an off night, Barkley also stressed that the Houston side has found rhythm in the series. 

“They don't have to worry about Kevin Durant anymore. So they outplayed them in game three and choked. They stumped them down in game four. I think their confidence is through the roof.”

The Rockets missed Kevin Durant in the last two games, as the team sidelined him because of a bone bruise. Nevertheless, Game 3 still required a clutch three from LeBron James to force overtime and secured the win. 

Game 4, however, had an entirely different story. The Rockets controlled the game, while the Lakers struggled offensively. Bron, being the leader, took the responsibility on his shoulders. 

“It started with me, obviously. My turnovers were unacceptable,” he said after the loss.

The question now is whether LeBron James can prove Barkley's claims wrong in the next game.

Does James Have Enough for Game 5?

History suggests he can. King James has previously led the Cavaliers back from a 3-1 deficit in the NBA Finals back in 2016. The challenge is different now, but the expectation remains the same.

The burden on LeBron will be significantly lightened by the return of Austin Reaves, who has been cleared to play after missing nine games with an oblique strain, as per the Washington Post. Reaves’ secondary playmaking is critical because it prevents the Rockets from double-teaming James consistently, a tactic that led to his eight turnovers in Game 4.

Furthermore, James has a storied history of rebounding from poor playoff performances. Despite his age, his 2026 postseason averages before Game 4 (25.3 PPG, 9.7 RPG) prove he is still elite.

With the series moving back to Los Angeles, the combination of home-court advantage and Reaves' return provides James the "basket" he needs to put his remaining energy into for a series-clinching win.

Do you think LeBron James can pull this off?

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Written by

Shahul Hameed

Edited by

Zaid Quraishi