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By Matthew Couden
Contributing Writer
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Charles Barkley didn't hold back on his criticism of LeBron James after learning that the NBA legend chose the Philadelphia 76ers as his next team.
The 76ers great told Stephen A. Smith that he wasn't happy about interrupting what he was doing to talk about James, rather than playing some golf.
"I was good until til yall ruined my damn day. I was heading to the golf course, and now I gotta turn around cause this doofus had to make his announcement. Don't interrupt my damn schedule. I've been playing golf all week, and now y'all piss me off cause I gotta work on a Friday," Barkley told Smith on his show.
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When asked about James' final destination seeming to be Philadelphia and the potential of winning a fourth championship, Barkley offered a strong criticism of James, which he's said he's had of him for a while in his career now.
More news: Lakers Champion Dwight Howard Teases Returning to 76ers
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"The number one knock on LeBron for older guys like myself has always been, 'Yo man, you always stacking your team.'" Barkley said. "He stacked it in Miami. He stacked it in Cleveland. He stacked it in L.A., now he's stacking it in Philly. So that to me, I'm gonna still have the same criticism I've always had. He's always stacked his team."
James's previous team, the Lakers, featured attempts to bring in top stars around him, including big man Anthony Davis and, later, Luka Doncic. James won one championship there in 2020 with Davis as a teammate. He and Doncic were unable to do the same in the past several seasons.
In Miami, he famously joined a team that included superstar Dwyane Wade and then added All-Star Chris Bosh to form a "Big Three," making for a tough opponent to topple. They won back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013.
When James returned to the team he started his career with, the Cleveland Cavaliers, they had All-Star Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, giving him another pair of stars to play alongside. That combination won a championship in 2016.
And now James has joined an All-Star-packed roster featuring Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Jaylen Brown. Add in VJ Edgecombe, who has the makings of a future All-Star, and this seems like the most stacked of any team James has joined.
At 41, many believe this is James's "ring chasing," so that narrative may stick with him once he hangs it up and calls it a career. Still, it is hard to argue his place amongst the greatest players of all time, based on his overall resume.
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