Charles Barkley ripped the Lakers for letting Anthony Davis play in Game 6 and hes right

LeBron James and the Lakers being eliminated from the postseason will be the headline ringing off around the NBA world today and rightfully so.

These were the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers with one of the best players to ever play the game. LeBron James had been 14-0 in the first round of the playoffs before Thursday’s loss.

But we shouldn’t let any of that distract from the fact that the Lakers tried to play Anthony Davis in Game 6.

Davis suffered a strained groin in Game 4 of the series just four days before trying to give it a go in Game 6. It’s pretty obvious how that turned out. Davis looked like he could barely move out there.

It only took five minutes for him to hit the ground in clear pain and it was absolutely terrifying. He limped back to the locker room after going down.

AD heads back to the locker room after going down. pic.twitter.com/ExlDNMHgcv

— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) June 4, 2021

He reportedly didn’t further injure his groin, but the pain intensified when the Suns made him guard in space, per Yahoo! Sports’ Chris Haynes.

Source: Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis (groin) did not injure his groin strain any further, but the pain intensifies when his mobility is tested.

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 4, 2021

Davis, clearly, should never have been allowed to play in that game. Yes, it was do-or-die with the Lakers on the brink of elimination. And, no, Davis didn’t injure himself any further, luckily.

But, clearly, he had no business being out there. And it could’ve been disastrous.

Charles Barkley called the Lakers out for allowing him in the game at all.

Charles Barkley rightfully called out the Lakers medical staff for letting Anthony Davis warm up and play#PHXvsLAL #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/BHx29Xd8AO

— Mike Mayer (@offthemike28) June 4, 2021

“Well first of all, the doctors who let him go out like that, they need to have a serious talk with him. He looked bad from the beginning. He never even got past the top of the key except that one time. I can’t believe they let this kid warm up and go out there like that. This is ridiculous, man. Seriously.”

We don’t know who made the call for Davis to play in this game or who allowed it, but clearly, he actually wanted to play. It’s the playoffs. And the Lakers are the defending champions. Of course, Davis wants to be out there defending his title.

But there are times where competition has to be set aside for best practices. Players have to be protected from themselves. This was one of those times and, obviously, there was a failure to do so.

The Lakers are eliminated from the playoffs now, so it doesn’t much matter anymore. And Davis will be able to get plenty of rest now, thankfully.

But it’s still concerning that staying alive in a first-round playoff series was clearly put before the health and well-being of a franchise cornerstone. That can’t happen. And it’s a shame the Lakers let it.

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