Los Angeles Lakers ahead LeBron James will miss a season opener for the primary time in his profession on account of sciatica on his proper facet, the staff introduced Thursday. James, who’s coming into his twenty third NBA season, will likely be re-evaluated in three to 4 weeks.
Sciatica is “nerve ache from an harm or irritation to your sciatic nerve,” in line with the Cleveland Clinic. It impacts a number of of the nerves that run down the decrease again by the hip and buttocks and down the leg on either side of the physique.
James, 40, was already held out of coaching camp practices and the primary two preseason video games this month on account of nerve irritation in his glute. Now, he’ll miss your entire preseason and no less than the primary 5 video games of the common season based mostly on the present timeline.
It should even be the primary time in James’ profession that he misses your entire preseason. Beforehand, the earliest he had ever missed a regular-season recreation was in 2019-20, when he was sidelined for the fourth recreation of Los Angeles’ season.
The Lakers open the common season on Oct. 21 at dwelling in opposition to the Golden State Warriors.
James’ public appearances this season have been sparse. After taking questions on the Lakers’ media day, he’s been held out of practices and video games. And this week, after teasing a “second choice” on social media — which led to rampant hypothesis that he could announce his retirement — it was revealed that James was partaking in an advert marketing campaign for an alcoholic beverage, a marketing campaign that drew huge criticism.
James will in reality return to the court docket this season, however not for a number of video games. He’ll probably miss regular-season video games in opposition to the Warriors, the Minnesota Timberwolves at dwelling, the Sacramento Kings on the highway, the Portland Path Blazers at dwelling and Minnesota on the highway. Lakers coach JJ Redick stated at Thursday’s apply that James is “on his personal timeline.”
After the staff’s first apply on Sept. 30, Redick stated the Lakers and James have been making an attempt to handle the state of affairs because the veteran “most likely (wants) just a little bit longer of a ramp up main into opening evening.” Redick added that James was coping with “just a little little bit of nerve irritation within the glute.”
On the time, Redick’s hope was for James to play sooner or later within the preseason, with the primary purpose of being prepared for opening evening. Now, the staff is with out the NBA’s all-time chief in minutes performed for the foreseeable future.
The Lakers went 6-6 in video games with out James final season. That included a 2-1 file in video games that Anthony Davis performed with out James, and a 3-2 file in video games that Luka Dončić performed with out James after the Lakers traded Davis to the Dallas Mavericks. James’ absence from camp has coincided with the Lakers’ load managing Dončić after a summer time highlighted by a powerful Eurobasket run with Slovenia.
Dončić additionally missed the primary two Lakers preseason video games and was held out of practices this week. New beginning heart Deandre Ayton lamented that he hasn’t had the chance to work a lot with James or Dončić, one thing Redick addressed after Thursday’s apply.
“You gotta play the cardboard you’re dealt,” Redick stated. “That’s simply actuality. D.A. acquired a pair days with Luka final week. Nobody’s gotten any time with Bron. Not simply D.A., all people.”
Requested Deandre Ayton what he can get out of taking part in with out Luka Doncic and LeBron James at this stage of the preseason
Ayton talked about he hasn’t been in a position to work with Luka or Bron but. And it is perhaps a pair weeks till that does occur. pic.twitter.com/8LvMbQcR2V
— Legislation Murray 🎃 (@LawMurrayTheNU) October 8, 2025
The Lakers’ subsequent preseason recreation is Sunday in opposition to the Warriors at dwelling. Whether or not Dončić will likely be out there has not but been decided.
The Lakers might want to discover a new starter to go together with Dončić, Ayton, Austin Reaves and incumbent Rui Hachimura. The staff may flip to ahead Jarred Vanderbilt, new acquisition Marcus Sensible (who simply returned to apply after coping with Achilles’ tendinopathy and the flu) or new acquisition Jake LaRavia.
James made his twenty first consecutive All-Star look final season and was named to an All-NBA staff for the twenty first consecutive season, incomes a spot on the Second Staff. He picked up his participant possibility this offseason and is about to be a free agent in 2026, marking the primary time in his profession that he doesn’t have a contract possibility in place after the present season.
