Former NBA player and playoff rival Joe Johnson has sparked controversy with a bold claim about LeBron James, suggesting the Lakers star may be faking his current injury to influence the team’s early-season strategy.
In an interview clip that quickly spread online, Johnson didn’t hold back.
“To be honest, I feel like that sciatica might be a little fugazi,” he said. “Man had all summer to get right. He was out there on the golf course, 18 holing, fell in love chasing the white ball. I think the sciatica is really trying to play the Lakers’ hand.”
Gilbert Arenas Show Co-host and Known Lebron fan Josiah says Lebron is FAKING a Sciatic Injury because the Lakers didnt offer him an Extension:
“Tbh i feel like that sciatica might be a lil fugazi, man had all summer to get right, he was out there on the golf course 18 holing, i… pic.twitter.com/xRhDojYxv9
— TheTruth (@Thetruth8240) October 14, 2025
Some fans defended James, arguing that at 40, rest and recovery are part of what keep him effective. Others sided with Johnson, saying the timing of these “injuries” often aligns with low-stakes stretches of the schedule — suggesting more gamesmanship than pain.
Even while his career is on its last legs, LeBron James’ ability to ignite public discussion and his inability to stay out of the limelight never seems to fail to put people’s attention on him. Any and all developments in the final chapter of his professional career will certainly have an effect on the Lakers as a whole. This storyline is one yet to be decided.
Sports Analyst Accuses LeBron James Of Using “Selective Injuries” To Skip Games
As if Joe Johnson’s remarks weren’t enough, sports commentator Craig Carton also joined the discussion — and he didn’t mince words either.
“I’m calling BS on it because I just saw him dancing last week, and that’s not what you do with sciatica,” Carton said, according to Fadeaway World. “I hate to be that guy, but this seems to be the current norm for LeBron, where he’s not ready to go either into an All-Star break, or to start a season, or during a quote-unquote ‘meaningless’ part of the season, and disappears.”
Carton’s comments echoed the skepticism of fans who’ve long suspected LeBron James of timing his rest periods to fit the Lakers’ long-term goals. The argument isn’t new — the star forward has faced similar accusations throughout his career, especially in seasons where Los Angeles looked to preserve his health for deep playoff runs.
While some see it as smart veteran management, others view it as manipulative, even disrespectful to paying fans.
For LeBron, who’s still expected to carry the Lakers deep into another postseason, the noise won’t change much. But for those watching closely, it adds another layer to a career that’s already full of storylines — both heroic and controversial.
For more basketball content, click on Hardwood Heroics. Sabel Reyes can be reached through sabelreyes22@gmail.com. Other websites under the Sports Heroics umbrella are Gridiron Heroics and Wisconsin Heroics.
Sabel has been working as a field reporter for People’s Television Network (PTV), mainly about the Philippine Basketball Association since 2016 and has been elevated to Executive Producer for sports in 2022. Aside from being on top of the Philippine sports scene, she is also a running enthusiast. You can also follow her on X at @SabelReyes2 and Instagram at @msabelreyes.
