Charles Barkley Announces NBA Finals Are Over But Here’s Why He’s Wrong originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
There is something about the direction that Charles Barkley’s chosen post-playing-career profession has taken that breeds skepticism from the audience.
After all, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith attended the Game 4 thriller in Oklahoma City – with the Indiana Pacers registering a 111-104 win to even the NBA Finals at 2-2 – and may have been more invested in playing Solitaire on his phone that he was enjoying or reporting on the actual game.
Barkley also has a reputation for not necessarily taking notes on the games he’s covering. … if you get our drift.
But there is a difference between the two high-profile voices.
Smith clearly makes up outrageous statements for the attention they bring.
Barkley issues humorously outrageous statements … and seems to believe them.
Again, the NBA Finals are even at two games apiece. The ebb and the flow of this series, like most of them, is on.
But Hall of Famer and NBA analyst Barkley thinks the series is essentially over.
Or, at least, that’s what he says he thinks.
“Yeah I think they (the Pacers) are in trouble because when you have a team on the ropes, you gotta finish them off,” Barkley said. “You go up 3-1, you’re in great shape. But now, you know Oklahoma City … No. 1, they got a better team. …
“And they’re going back to Oklahoma City. I think this series is a wrap.”
Barkley might be right about the “better team” take … though it would beg the question, “How did Indy ever get up 2-1?”
Additionally, if a team failing to “finish off” an opponent in crunch time … wouldn’t that mean – given the Pacers unmatched clutch earlier in this series – that OKC has already blown it?
The remainder of the series is now effectively a best-of-three, and given that two of the potential three remaining games – including the pivotal Game 5 on Monday – are in OKC?
There’s nothing wrong with picking the Thunder.
But “in trouble”? “It’s a wrap”? Series is over?
That’s not how the NBA Finals usually work. And in the moments when Barkley is truly paying attention, we think he knows that.
Related: OKC Thunder Even Up Series After Indiana Pacers Collapse
Related: ‘Solitaire’ Stephen A. Accused of Lying About ‘Fraud’ Behavior at NBA Finals
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 14, 2025, where it first appeared.