Charles Barkley Dreads Lakers Win Against Nuggets

NBA legend hopes Lakers lose to avoid hearing about them as contenders on Monday talk shows.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 3:53am

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NBA legend Charles Barkley admitted his "worst nightmare" would be the Los Angeles Lakers defeating the Denver Nuggets in a key Western Conference matchup, as he does not want to hear talk of the Lakers being contenders on Monday's sports talk shows.

Why it matters

Barkley has been openly critical of the Lakers all season, repeatedly dismissing them as a "not good team." This game represented a crucial tiebreaker in the Western Conference standings, and Barkley was clearly hoping the Nuggets would win to avoid having to hear praise for the Lakers.

The details

Ahead of the Lakers-Nuggets game on March 14, 2026, Barkley expressed his hope that the Lakers would lose, saying "My worst nightmare is the Lakers winning tonight, and I have to listen to all the crap on Monday on all the talk shows on how the Lakers are contenders. Please don't let em win. I'mma be nail-biting all night tonight." However, the Lakers went on to win the game 127-125 in overtime, handing Barkley the outcome he dreaded.

  • The Lakers-Nuggets game took place on March 14, 2026.
  • Barkley made his comments ahead of the game on the Inside the NBA pregame show.

The players

Charles Barkley

A Hall of Fame NBA player and current analyst on the Inside the NBA program.

LeBron James

A star player for the Los Angeles Lakers who had recently returned from injury.

Nikola Jokić

The star center for the Denver Nuggets who recorded a triple-double in the game.

Luka Dončić

The star guard for the Denver Nuggets who also recorded a triple-double in the game.

Austin Reaves

A consistent scorer for the Los Angeles Lakers throughout the season.

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What they’re saying

“My worst nightmare is the Lakers winning tonight, and I have to listen to all the crap on Monday on all the talk shows on how the Lakers are contenders. Please don't let em win. I'mma be nail-biting all night tonight.”

— Charles Barkley

What’s next

The Lakers' win over the Nuggets gave them a crucial tiebreaker in the Western Conference standings, moving them to 42-25 on the season.

The takeaway

Barkley's continued criticism of the Lakers highlights his long-standing rivalry with the franchise, and his desire to avoid having to acknowledge them as contenders. The Lakers' victory, despite Barkley's wishes, demonstrates their resilience and ability to overcome a tough opponent in a high-stakes game.