Charles Barkley on If Lakers Can Make Playoffs Next Season: 'Hell No'

The Los Angeles Lakers have improved their roster in recent years, but Charles Barkley still believes the team is far from competing for a playoff spot. 

When asked by TMZ whether the Lakers will make the playoffs, the TNT analyst simply responded, "Hell no."

He also said the Philadelphia 76ers were "much better" than Los Angeles at the moment.

The Lakers have gone four straight seasons without making the playoffs. This is not only the longest stretch in franchise history, it matches the total number of seasons without a playoff berth from the team's move to Los Angeles in 1960 to 2013.

While the squad has put together a nice young core of talented players like Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Julius Randle, plus veteran center Brook Lopez, there is still a lot of competition in the Western Conference. Seemingly all of last year's playoff teams got stronger, as well as non-playoff squads like the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets.

Considering the Lakers were just 26-56 last season, third-worst record in the NBA, it would take a lot going right to reach the playoffs.

Meanwhile, Barkley also got in one more shot at his new rival LaVar Ball before the end of the interview. When asked if he could beat Lonzo's father one-on-one, Barkley said, "everybody can."