Analyst makes straightforward three-word claim on what's really wrong with Lakers' LeBron James

The Los Angeles Lakers don’t look the same without LeBron James on the hardwood. 

The franchise boasts a 4-3 record through seven games, largely thanks to Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic’s heroic contributions. 

However, James, who’s been glued to the Lakers’ bench with sciatica, will give the franchise the offensive boost they’ve been missing to start the year when he finally makes his season debut. 

However, a popular analyst believes that James’ sciatica isn’t the reason he’s been sidelined in Los Angeles, as he recently made a straightforward three-word take on what he thinks is actually wrong with the 40-year-old forward.

“He’s just old,” Charles Barkley said on the Dan Patrick Show on Friday. “Everybody gets old. He says it's sciatica. You know what that means, Dan? Yeah, I know his back hurts. All old people's backs hurt, Dan.”

Two things can be true at once. Sciatica is no joke, as the unfortunate injury results in tingling and/or numbness in the lower back and leg. NBA regular seasons are always lengthy, making Los Angeles’ decision to rest him at the start of the year logical. 

At the same time, James is old, by basketball standards, and likely would agree that he isn’t the same player he used to be. 

Simply put, the 21-time All-Star is old and injured, which isn’t an ideal combination in the big leagues.

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