The Boston Celtics are the favorites: Heated argument in the NBA.

In a spirited debate on “Inside the NBA,” Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley clashed over a bold claim made by Smith.

He suggested that the outcome of the Game 1 matchup between the Dallas Mavericks and the Minnesota Timberwolves, featuring rising stars Luka Dončić and Anthony Edwards, would determine the new “face” of the NBA.

Smith emphasized that this series would elevate either Dončić or Edwards to the league’s forefront, surpassing other notable players like Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Tyrese Haliburton. He argued that the narrative would focus on whether Luka or Edwards led their team to victory or succumbed to defeat, making one of them the NBA’s new figurehead.

Barkley, however, vehemently disagreed, calling Smith’s take “one of the dumbest” he had ever heard. Barkley pointed out that the Boston Celtics, with their strong lineup and star players Tatum and Brown, are the clear favorites to win the NBA Finals. He emphasized that the discussion should not overlook the Celtics’ prominence and dominance in the league.

Barkley underscored that the Celtics’ chances of winning the Finals are significant, and any conversation about the league’s new face should consider the established stars on the Celtics’ roster. He reminded viewers that just a couple of years ago, Tatum was on the brink of being crowned the league’s face if the Celtics had triumphed over the Golden State Warriors in the 2022 NBA Finals.

Smith’s take, according to Barkley, prematurely discounted the Celtics and their key players, a notion Barkley found laughable and shortsighted given the team’s current standing and potential to dominate the league.

In essence, Barkley argued for a broader perspective that acknowledges the Celtics’ current status as overwhelming favorites and the significant impact of their star players, contrasting Smith’s more narrow focus on Dončić and Edwards.