Charles Barkley is back at it again, proving once more that his mouth has no offseason. This time, the legend decided to aim his signature honesty at none other than King James himself, claiming that LeBron James is faking his injury. Yes, according to Sir Charles, LeBron’s not hurt, he’s just on “dramatic vacation.”
During a recent broadcast, Barkley didn’t hold back as he spoke his mind about LeBron James’ injury and all that.
But let’s be real, this is Barkley, the man would roast his own grandmother if she missed a free throw. And he’s not entirely wrong about LeBron being theatrical. There could be more to the injury than we know.
Before the season tipped off, the Lakers announced James had been diagnosed with right-side sciatica, a condition involving nerve damage that’s more common in older adults. At 40 years old, James fits right into that demographic. It’s an ailment rarely seen in younger athletes, but Father Time waits for no one.
“First of all, LeBron don’t have a sciatica,” Barkley declared on Inside The NBA. “They [should] just put old. O-L-D, with an extra ‘d’ too.”
Barkley’s not exactly wrong about the age factor here. James turns 41 this December, so expecting more wear and tear isn’t unreasonable. His comment likely came with a healthy dose of humor, poking fun at James’ mileage more than doubting the diagnosis itself. Still, there’s a chance Barkley genuinely questions whether sciatica is the real culprit. Either way, it’s classic Inside the NBA banter at its finest.
But James isn’t the only star missing time right now. Luka Doncic is out with a sprained finger, leaving the Lakers a bit thin on firepower. In the meantime, Austin Reaves has stepped up and taken charge, keeping things steady until the cavalry returns.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick shared Wednesday that LeBron James is expected back sometime in the second or third week of November. If that timeline holds, he’ll miss at least the first 10 games of the season. The Lakers open a five-game road trip in Atlanta against the Hawks on November 8 and won’t return home until November 18 to face the Utah Jazz.
Fans, of course, are divided. Some are backing LeBron James and others, they’re “Team Barkley.”
Whether LeBron’s actually hurt or just tired of pretending the Lakers are fine, one thing’s certain, Charles Barkley doesn’t believe him.
Flip to the next page to watch Charles Barkley speak…
