NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley is no longer backing the New York Knicks to win the Eastern Conference, shifting his support to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
During ESPN's Inside the NBA broadcast on Friday night, Barkley announced he was no longer choosing New York over coming out of the East.
"I'm changing my choice Ernie. I told you all I thought the Knicks were coming from the East... the Cleveland Cavaliers are coming from the Eastern Conference," Barkley said.
Cleveland has improved its position after trading with the Los Angeles Clippers to acquire James Harden in exchange for Darius Garland at this season's deadline. The Cavaliers extended their winning streak to seven games with a 118-113 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night, improving to 36-21 on the season. Cleveland is now in third place in the Eastern Conference, just one game behind the second-seeded Boston Celtics.
Since arriving in Cleveland, Harden has averaged 18.4 points, 8.6 assists, five rebounds and one steal per game, while shooting 49.1 percent from the field and 48.1 percent from three-point range in five contests in 31.8 minutes per game.
"The Cleveland Cavaliers are coming out of the Eastern Conference," - Charles Barkley 👀👀👀 pic.twitter.com/xF7XkMXzuG
- ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) 21 February 2026
Charles Barkley moves East pick as Cavaliers lead ahead of Knicks matchup
Harden's presence coincides with increased production from center Jarrett Allen. Over that same five-game span, Allen has averaged 22.6 points, 11.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists and one block while shooting 76.3 percent from the field in 30 minutes per contest. For the season, the 27-year-old is averaging 14.9 points and 8.4 rebounds while shooting 62.7 percent in 45 games.
Meanwhile, New York has experienced a strong stretch of its own despite Barkley's transfer. The Knicks went 10–3 from late January to early February, including an eight-game winning streak. However, they dropped to the fourth seed after a 126–111 loss to the NBA-leading Detroit Pistons, falling to 35–21 on the year.
The two Eastern Conference contenders are scheduled to meet during New York's upcoming three-game road trip. The Knicks visit Cleveland next Tuesday at 7:30 PM ET on Peacock.
With the Cavaliers gaining momentum and climbing the standings, Barkley's revised prediction underscores how rapidly the Eastern Conference hierarchy has shifted in the weeks since the trade deadline.
