NBA legend Charles Barkley made a career as an analyst with his bold predictions and out-of-the-box basketball takes. During a recent broadcast, Barkley came forward to give his opinion on the defining factor that could potentially help the Dallas Mavericks reach the Western Conference Finals.
Barkley singled out one key player who could help the Mavericks turn their Conference Finals hopes into reality.
What Factor Does NBA Legend Charles Barkley Think Can Put the Mavericks on a Deep Postseason Run?
During a recent TNT broadcast, “Chuck” shared with his co-hosting group what he believes will be the biggest factor in propelling the Dallas Mavericks to the Western Conference Finals:
“If Anthony Davis is healthy. If Anthony Davis plays 65 to 70 games and Kyrie (Irving) comes back at the beginning of the year, the Dallas Mavericks are the second-best team in the Western Conference,” Barkley said.
To many, this statement is a big reach and asks a lot from a team that failed to make the play-in tournament and was eliminated from playoff contention. Davis missed significant time due to injury, and star point guard Kyrie Irving suffered a torn ACL during a March game against the Sacramento Kings. The Mavericks pressed the panic button, having noticeable voids on the court.
With “The Brow” having a clean bill of health to start the 2025-26 season, Jason Kidd and the Mavericks, along with rookie number one overall pick Cooper Flagg, look to put all the pieces of the perfect season puzzle together. Their goal: to throw their name back into the conversation for the best team in the Western Conference.
Davis’ best recent season (2023-24) saw the stretch big man average 24.7 PPG, 12.6 RPG, 2.3 blocks, and 1.2 steals. When Davis is at the top of his game, few around the league genuinely pose a threat. He’s a player who can space the floor, score inside the paint at will, and is tenacious on the boards.
Davis is one of the best NBA big men the game has to offer when healthy. The former 2012 first-round pick had a standout college basketball career, and it was clear he would be a unanimous number one overall pick. The New Orleans Pelicans did not hesitate to grab the promising talent he was.
He would spend seven years in New Orleans and hit the ground running. By the time he left the Pelicans, he held multiple franchise records:
- All-time leading scorer: 11,059 points
- All-time blocks leader: 1,121
- All-time rebounds leader: 4,905
- Most points in a game: 59 (in 2016)
Davis achieved all this with little to no help. Although the team signed DeMarcus Cousins in hopes of creating a dynamic one-two punch in the paint, injuries tarnished those dreams. Davis left in 2019 to join the Lakers. One year later, during the 2020 NBA season, which to many felt like a fever dream due to the global pandemic, Davis and the Lakers won “the bubble.”
Lakers Nation thought they had found their next big man who could make a lasting impact, but the injury-prone Davis battled ailments throughout his time there. He was eventually shipped off in February as part of the Luka Dončić trade, finding a new home in Dallas. Unfortunately, Davis suffered a torn groin in his first game and missed a significant chunk of game time.
READ MORE: Anthony Davis Sends Clear Warning to NBA Rivals About Mavericks’ Championship Goal
With a supporting cast that consists of D’Angelo Russell, Max Christie, Dante Exum, and Daniel Gafford, the Mavericks will be put to the ultimate test, facing off against the Rockets with newly acquired Kevin Durant, the Grizzlies and their star guard Ja Morant, Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets, Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves, and last but not least, the reigning NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Analysts, fans, and the front office will be watching to see if the Mavericks can prove Charles Barkley and his prediction correct. Nevertheless, the 2025-26 NBA season will definitely have fans on the edge of their seats, whether for the Mavericks’ victory or defeat.
