LeBron James-Stephen Curry Opening Night Battle Off with Lakers’ Star Out for 3–4 Weeks

Now that LeBron James has officially been ruled out for nearly a month, it means he will miss opening night for the first time in his career. With that, his season-opening battle against longtime rival and friend Stephen Curry now stands canceled.

Charles Barkley believes LeBron James has earned the right not to be ready for season opener

In the latest episode of Mind the Game podcast, LeBron James discussed with co-host Steve Nash how he wants to focus on the playoffs and not bother about getting ready for the season opener. Hall of Famer Charles Barkley agrees with this idea.

I have no problem with a guy being that old sitting out. He’s not going to gain anything in the preseason. LeBron has paid his dues way beyond what he has done for the NBA. The Lakers got to stay healthy for the playoffs. Doesn’t matter what they accomplish in the regular season.

Charles Barkley said on The Rich Eisen Show

The Round Mound of Rebound added that it is important that the Los Angeles Lakers use these first few weeks to develop their bench. They need that bench input throughout the season if they need LeBron James to stay fresh in the postseason.

He believes the men in purple and gold are under the most pressure to win a championship. Otherwise, their season is generally considered a bust. On that note, Charles Barkley agrees it is right to let The King rest for now and come back fresh later.

LeBron James may not suit up before mid-November

If going by what Shams Charania revealed, LeBron James will miss quite a few games for the Los Angeles Lakers. Going by the length of the layoff, the 4-time league MVP will miss all the games in October.

If his recovery continues, the Akron native might then miss the first few games of November. The only problem is that around that time, the Lakers will embark on a 5-game road trip against Eastern Conference teams.

Usually, players returning from injury avoid playing on the road, and only play at home when the entire medical staff is at their disposal. Going by that timeline, James might not suit up until their November 18th game against the Utah Jazz.

The Los Angeles-based team hopes it can hold its own until its oldest player returns. Competition in the Western Conference this year is expected to be tougher than what fans witnessed last time.