Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James has been ruled out for three to four weeks as he deals with sciatica on his right side. It’s the first time in James’ career that he is missing the start of an NBA season, and Skip Bayless thinks he isn’t actually injured. Bayless stated on The Skip Bayless Show that James is disappointed with how he has been treated by the Lakers in the summer and is faking the injury.
“LeBron James isn’t hurting,” Bayless said. “He’s pouting. He’s rebelling. He’s going little kid on the Los Angeles Lakers for the way they have treated or mistreated him in his view. He’s saying, ‘Okay, if Luka is the man, if I am not in your plans, then I am basically going to take my basketball and go home.”
James was suffering from nerve irritation in the glute when he entered the Lakers’ training camp, and Bayless reckons that was all part of the plan.
“We were told as training camp opened that he had nerve irritation in his glute and that could translate into the current sciatica,” Bayless stated. “But LeBron and his team are brilliant at creating injury excuses. Nobody in the history of sports has ever been more clever and deceitful in faking and creating and exaggerating injuries than LeBron and his camp.”
Bayless was referring to the likes of Rich Paul, Maverick Carter, and Randy Mims there. The 74-year-old believes James, who averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.2 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game in 2024-25, is suffering from “sciatica of the psyche” at this point.
“The only thing injured in LeBron right now is his pride,” Bayless said. “That got stepped on, by of all people, the Lakers. I told you this was coming because it was clear to me and a shock to me as the Lakers were extending Luka, and extending open hands to Luka, as in, ‘We will do everything in our power to make you happy as the new face of this franchise.'”
Bayless pointed out that Lakers GM Rob Pelinka and former majority owner Jeanie Buss had both flown to Poland to show their support for Luka Doncic before EuroBasket 2025. Doncic is the crown jewel for the franchise now, and James’ interests no longer appear to be their top priority. The 40-year-old might be upset about that, but you doubt he’s faking sciatica.
This isn’t the first time that Bayless has put out such accusations. James reportedly suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain in Game 5 of the first round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves last season, but the analyst wasn’t buying it. Bayless claimed James faked the injury to avoid media backlash over the early exit.
It was a couple of months after that playoff exit in July that James is said to have picked up this nerve problem. The fact that the 21-time All-Star is still bothered by it is concerning.
If we put Bayless’ claims aside for a bit, James is entering his record-breaking 23rd season in the NBA in a far from ideal way. You fully expected him to start shining on the court from the get-go in 2025-26, but it might be a slow process this time around.
