As LeBron James continues his recovery from a reported sciatica injury, NBA Hall of Famer and Inside the NBA analyst Charles Barkley hilariously stated that he doesn’t believe the injury is real, and that LeBron is simply old instead.
“And first of all, LeBron don’t have a sciatica,” Barkley said during the broadcast, before adding, “They should’ve just put ‘old’ on the injury report. O-L-D.”
The comment, delivered with Barkley’s trademark bluntness and humor, came during TNT’s coverage of the Lakers’ matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Charles Barkley says Lebron DOESN’T have Sciatica pic.twitter.com/hF9sKR0fCz
— TheTruth (@Thetruth8240) October 30, 2025
Sciatica refers to pain that radiates along the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back down through the legs. It’s a common condition among older athletes and can cause significant discomfort, limiting mobility and explosiveness. The Lakers have listed James as out due to “right-sided sciatica,” and he has missed all preseason games and the first four regular-season contests.
At 40 years old, James is entering his 22nd NBA season, and the Lakers have emphasized caution in managing his workload. Head coach JJ Redick has said the team is “prioritizing long-term health over short-term availability.”
James is reportedly targeting a return in mid-November, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
