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Charles Barkley knows the real problem with LeBron James

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Larry Brown | Last updated Oct 30, 2025 7:05 PM ET

LeBron James may be out due to sciatica, but Charles Barkley is not buying it. He thinks he knows what is really going on with the Los Angeles Lakers star.

Barkley was goofing around during “Inside the NBA” on ESPN Wednesday and talked about the Lakers, who had several players out for their game at the Minnesota Timberwolves. James was listed as out due to sciatica, which is a nerve issue. Barkley thinks the sciatica injury is a cover for something else.

“First of all, LeBron doesn’t have a sciatica. They just put ‘old.’ O-L-D, with an extra ‘D,’ too,” Barkley joked.

Charles Barkley says Lebron DOESN'T have Sciatica pic.twitter.com/hF9sKR0fCz
— TheTruth (@Thetruth8240) October 30, 2025

An update on James’ condition came out this week, saying that the Lakers forward could return in a few weeks . The Lakers have seemed to suggest that there is no urgency to rush James into action. However, Luka Doncic also getting hurt recently may have changed things for the team.

For now, the Lakers are 3-2 and have been relying on Austin Reaves to do plenty of scoring. He is averaging 34.2 points per game this season. James is 40 years old and entering his 23rd NBA season. He’s allowed to have “old” or sciatica as an injury issue. As Barkley knows and often says, Father Time is undefeated.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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