Charles Barkley believes LeBron James will sit out for the remainder of the Los Angeles Lakers’ regular season.
The Hall of Famer and current TNT analyst expects the veteran forward to return only in time for the playoffs.
“He wasn’t going to play, anyway. LeBron’s probably out for the rest of the season. I don’t see him coming back,” Barkley said during a recent episode of TNT’s Inside the NBA.
The Lakers are currently struggling, having lost four straight games, including the last three without LeBron, who is dealing with a groin injury. The NBA’s all-time leading scorer suffered the injury last Saturday during a loss to the Boston Celtics.
Delayed Return for LeBron
At first, reports indicated that James’ recovery was on track, and he could return between March 17 and 22. However, things have changed. Journalist Shams Charania reported that the 40-year-old star will remain sidelined for another week, making March 24 the earliest possible return date when the Lakers face the Orlando Magic.
This update aligns with Barkley’s prediction that LeBron won’t return for the remainder of the regular season but will be back for the playoffs. Barkley even speculated that James remained in New York instead of traveling to Milwaukee because he is prioritizing his health for the postseason.
Lakers Struggling Without Their Leader
Under head coach JJ Redick, the Lakers have dropped to fifth place in the Western Conference. They remain just two games behind the second-seeded Denver Nuggets, but they must get back to winning if they want to hold their position. The Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves are gaining momentum and are currently 2.5 games ahead.
Besides slipping in the standings, the Lakers are also missing LeBron’s production. In his 21st NBA season, he has been averaging 25.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 8.5 assists per game—numbers that are difficult to replace.
With the playoffs approaching, all eyes are on LeBron’s recovery as the Lakers hope to have their superstar back for a deep postseason run.
