Charles Barkley Calls Cap on "Old" LeBron James’ Sciatica Injury With Bold Accusation 

LeBron James has not played any games this season due to a sciatica injury, leaving the LA Lakers without their veteran leader to start the year. However, former NBA player and Inside the NBA host Charles Barkley believed James' injury was not real.

During the Inside the NBA broadcast during the Lakers' game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, Barkley said that the Lakers should have just written "old" in their injury report for James.

"First of all, LeBron (James) doesn't have a sciatica. They (should have) just put old," he said. "O-L-D, with an extra d too."

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James was one of the six players out with an injury for the Lakers, including Luka Doncic (finger), Marcus Smart (quad), Gabe Vincent (ankle), Maxi Kleber (oblique), and Adou Thiero (knee).

Still, the Lakers took down the Timberwolves behind Austin Reaves' game-winning floater at the buzzer to finish the game with 28 points and 16 assists.

James' injury has barred him from being part of the team's training camp to start the season. His injury was said to put him out of action for the first three weeks of the season.

James is the oldest player in the league as he will be turning 41 years old in December, playing in a record 23rd season.

The Lakers are 3-2 in their first five games of the season, led by Doncic and Reaves, both of whom have been carrying the cudgels for the team.

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JJ Redick gives update on LeBron James' injury timetable

Lakers head coach JJ Redick revealed the team's expectation for LeBron James' return to the court. According to Redick, James is expected to return sometime in the middle of November.

"JJ Redick says there is no set return date in mind for LeBron James but the team is eyeing the second or third week of November as the general range," Lakers insider Dave McMenamin wrote on X.

Earlier in the season, ESPN's Shams Charania reported the team was taking a patient approach in dealing with James' injury.

James averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists last season, earning All-NBA second team honors.

The Lakers will next face the Memphis Grizzlies on Oct. 31 as they look to string together wins without their star.

Edited by Rob Andrew Lo