LeBron James has yet to make his season debut due to injury, but Charles Barkley believes what’s ailing the Los Angeles Lakers’ star isn’t all that serious. The legendary power forward made a lighthearted jab at what James’ health setback is tied to.
What Did Charles Barkley Say About LeBron James’ Injury?
The Los Angeles Lakers are off to an encouraging 5-2 start, despite the injuries this current roster is dealing with. In particular, LeBron James is not expected to play his first game until mid-November, while Luka Doncic has missed three games due to a left finger sprain and a lower left leg contusion.
The Lakers entered this basketball season expecting to be heavily reliant on their two featured stars, but so far, the supporting cast has exceeded expectations in the first seven games. Specifically, Austin Reaves, who is playing like an MVP candidate in his fifth NBA season.
But to contend in the Western Conference, the Lakers need James back and healthy. The 21-time All-Star has currently been dealing with sciatica, a nerve issue, on his right side since the offseason and is taking a patient approach to his recovery.
Nonetheless, in a recent interview with Dan Patrick, Charles Barkley dismissed the seriousness of James’ current injury, attributing it to a single root cause.
“He’s just old… His back hurt. All old people’s back hurt, Dan. All old people’s back hurt. You can you can dress it up like a sciatica. You can come up with all these medical terms. LeBron is old.”
Charles Barkley and LeBron James Have Had Several Public Feuds Throughout the Years
While there doesn’t seem to be any ill will either way, Charles Barkley and LeBron James have a documented history of public disagreements/feuds. The Hall of Fame power forward-turned-NBA pundit has been critical of James several times throughout his career, which has led to these exchanges.
This beef escalated dramatically in 2017 when Barkley called James “inappropriate” and “whiny” for complaining about his Cleveland Cavaliers roster. James subsequently fired back by calling Barkley a “hater” and questioning his credibility as a television analyst.
The four-time champion brought up several of Barkley’s past transgressions, including unpaid gambling debts, an incident in which he spat on a fan, and another incident in which he threw someone through a bar window.
There have been a few more incidents since, but the two have also had cordial interactions in public at All-Star games. Still, the history of these public jabs and back-and-forth insults ultimately defines the dynamic between James and Barkley, highlighting a generational divide between some past legends in the NBA and the league’s current stars.
Soon enough, James will return to the floor, while Barkley will give his unfiltered opinion on the Lakers’ star. And no matter what it is, much of the public will take notice.