NBA Legend Drops Truth Bombs On Lakers About Firing Head Coach

Charles Barkley has picked the Golden State Warriors over the Houston Rockets to progress from the Western Conference. In this picture, Former NBA player and commentator Barkley looks on prior to the 2016 NCAA Men's Final Four National Championship game between the Villanova Wildcats and the North Carolina Tar Heels at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, April 4, 2016. Scott Halleran/Getty Images

KEY POINTS

Charles Barkley has some choice words for the Lakers' decision to fire Frank Vogel
Barkley feels Vogel and Russell Westbrook have been used as the scapegoats for the Lakers' season
The NBA Hall of Famer sends a parting blow to the Lakers about their average age

Charles Barkley has never been one shy to keep his thoughts to himself and the Los Angeles Lakers have given him ammunition to blast them on national television even more.

On the latest episode of Inside the NBA, the crew of Barkley, Ernie Johnson and Shaquille O’Neal reacted to the reports of the Lakers deciding to fire head coach Frank Vogel, with the Hall of Famer being the most vocal among them.

“Frank Vogel is getting screwed because whoever put these old-a** geezers together, they deserve the lion’s share of [blame]. They’ve scapegoated Frank, obviously, and Russ [Westbrook] all year,” Barkley said while also throwing shade at the Lakers front office.

“But this team, I told you from day one, I said the only chance this team has a chance at being competitive is Anthony Davis and clearly, he’s not doing what he’s supposed to do. But to blame Frank and Russ for putting this old-a** team together…”

NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski first broke the news about the Lakers planning to fire Vogel on Monday, April 11, which is somewhat ironic in its own right as the Lakers–Denver Nuggets game was still not done at the time.

Clearly reveling in the downward spiral that the Lakers have put themselves into, the 1993 NBA Finals runner-up decided to throw in a couple more jokes at the Lakers’ expense.

“There isn’t enough IcyHot, Bengay, Absorbine Jr., WD-40… my grandma used to put WD-40 on her knees and ankles to loosen them up. They (Lakers) should try that for them old-a** geezers,” Barkley added with much sarcasm.

Johnson then told viewers at home about the Lakers being the only team having an average of over 30 and the former Phoenix Sun was feeling it tonight and had one parting shot for the Lakers.

“Hey, they’re (Lakers) not over 30, they’re not 31 either. They’re 36, 37. [You mean] way over 30,” Johnson quipped.

The Lakers are primed for a wild offseason as they look to retool the roster around an aging LeBron James and oft-injured Anthony Davis while having no clear-cut No.1 candidate to replace Vogel.