Los Angeles Lakers star forward LeBron James has been sidelined since the start of the NBA season due to a sciatica injury. But Hall of Famer Charles Barkley isn’t buying it.

Sciatica is a very painful ailment that could last weeks or even months. However, it is rarely listed as a reason for an athlete to be placed on the injured list.

Additionally, such an issue can clear up in a few days if the nerve in question is not impinged. You just don’t know.

The Lakers, though, are being very cautious regardless. Head Coach JJ Redick recently provided an update, indicating the team would evaluate James’ progress before adopting a careful approach to his recovery, potentially extending his time away.

Insiders now project a mid-November return for the “King.”

Sciatica injury, or is LeBron out for another reason

The Lakers have some pretty significant issues with their lineup, and LeBron’s injury is just one of many. Barkley, discussing the matter on Inside the NBA, seemed to suggest James isn’t hurt at all.

“And first of all, LeBron don’t have a sciatica,” Barkley said. “They should just put old. O-L-D, with an extra D too.”

Oldd? That accusation is enough to make the 40-year-old want to flop. You know, like he usually does.

If it’s not a legit injury, why would LeBron be sitting out? Perhaps it’s part of that “load management” we’ve heard of lately. NBA legend and far better player than James, Michael Jordan, recently tore into players for sitting out games to rest.

“It shouldn’t be needed, first and foremost,” Jordan said of today’s soft players. “You know, I never wanted to miss a game because it was an opportunity to prove. It was something that I felt like the fans are there that watch me play.”

James, who fancies himself the greatest player of all time, has averaged fewer than 60 games per season over the last five seasons. 

READ MORE: Michael Jordan Torches Today’s Soft NBA Players

More doubts about LeBron

Or, maybe it’s something else entirely. Barkley isn’t the only one who thinks LeBron doesn’t have an injury of this nature. Fifteen-time All-Star Kevin Garnett suggested James might be taking some time away as leverage because he’s disgruntled about the team.

Yeah, the team that mortgaged away its future by wasting a ton of money on his contract extension, then wasting a draft pick on his son, who couldn’t shoot a basketball into the ocean from the deck of a Caribbean cruise liner.

He’s mad at them.

“This feels like leverage. Yeah. ‘I ain’t playing — I ain’t playing,'” Garnett said.

Three-time NBA champ Stacey King also has some doubts.

What do you guys think? Is LeBron’s injury legit, or is it just an elaborate flop?