Hall of Fame power forward and TNT analyst Charles Barkley has raised substantial expectations for a title contender, stating that he absolutely expects them to secure the 2024 NBA Championship.
Speaking on TNT's Inside the NBA before their Thursday games on March 7, the 61-year-old expressed that the Boston Celtics are the clear favorites to hoist the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy by June.
"If [the Celtics] don't win a championship this year, it would be a total gag job. They've got everything. You've got [Jaylen] Brown and [Jayson] Tatum, you've got two of the 10 best players in the league, probably... I will be shocked if the Celtics don't win," the 1993 NBA Most Valuable Player boldly asserted.
The Celtics are in the top spot of the Eastern Conference, leading by seven and a half games to the Milwaukee Bucks, who are in second place with a 48-14 record.
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Eastern Conference is Boston Celtics' for the taking
Barkley further doubled down on his comments, saying that aside from the Celtics, no other team in the Eastern Conference appears formidable.
The 11-time NBA All-Star mentioned the Bucks, highlighting stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, but asserted that they don't instill fear due to a perceived lack of overall athleticism.
Additionally, he expressed concerns about the New York Knicks' ability to regain full health, given injuries to their key players Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle.
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