“LeBron James is rebelling”: Skip Bayless accuses Lakers star of faking sciatica injury

The Los Angeles Lakers have encountered a major setback ahead of the 2025–26 NBA season, with superstar LeBron James expected to miss the season opener due to a sciatica-related issue affecting his right side.

The Lakers confirmed on Friday, October 10 (Philippine Standard Time), that the 40-year-old four-time NBA champion will be sidelined for at least three to four weeks. This timeline rules him out of training camp and potentially the early portion of the regular season.

Adding fuel to the controversy, outspoken American sports commentator Skip Bayless, known for his critical views on James, accused the veteran of feigning the injury to garner sympathy during a recent episode of The Skip Bayless Show.

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“I told you this was coming. LeBron James isn’t hurting. He is pouting. He is rebelling. He is going little kid on the Los Angeles Lakers for the way they have treated or mistreated him in his view. He is saying, ‘Okay, if Luka is the man, if I am not in your plans, then I will basically take my basketball and go home,’” Bayless claimed.

Bayless continued, “We were told as training camp opened that he had nerve irritation in his glute, and that could translate into his current sciatica. But LeBron and his team are brilliant at creating injury excuses. Nobody in the history of history has ever been more clever and deceitful in faking and creating and exaggerating injuries than LeBron James and his camp.”

James has not yet participated in a full practice since the start of training camp last week. Insider Shams Charania previously reported that the four-time MVP was likely to miss the entire preseason due to a lower-body nerve injury.

LeBron is going little kid on the Lakers. He’s telling them, “I’m talking my ball and going home” pic.twitter.com/eBGRVtiKSy

— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) October 10, 2025

Lakers head coach JJ Redick, entering his first season leading the team, acknowledged the challenges of building chemistry without their star player.

“You have got to play the cards you’re dealt. That’s a shame, but that’s just the reality. No one has got any time with LeBron — not just new center Deandre Ayton, but everybody,” Redick said. “James hasn’t been on the court with the team, but that’s just the reality.”

New acquisition Deandre Ayton echoed the sentiment but expressed optimism.

“It’s something I’ve just been waiting on. Just got to prepare,” Ayton said. “JJ and the coaching staff probably have something where they can put stuff together for all of us to really grow chemistry.”

If the injury recovery goes as expected, James will miss the Lakers’ season opener against the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center on Wednesday, October 22 (PHT).

Despite this setback, James is on the cusp of making NBA history. The 2025–26 season will mark his record-breaking 23rd year in the league, surpassing Vince Carter for the longest career in NBA history.

Since joining the Lakers in the 2018–19 season, the team has posted a 248–171 record with James on the floor, compared to 56–78 without him — underscoring his enduring impact even as he nears the twilight of a legendary career.

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