LeBron James will miss the start of his record 23rd NBA season after being diagnosed with sciatica on his right side, the Los Angeles Lakers announced Thursday. The team expects the 40-year-old forward to be sidelined an additional three to four weeks.
James, who has yet to participate in a full training camp practice, missed both of the Lakers’ preseason games and continues to deal with what head coach JJ Redick described as nerve irritation in his glute.
“Sciatica” refers to irritation, inflammation or compression of the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower spine through the gluteal muscles and down the legs. Symptoms can include sharp or burning pain, tingling or numbness, and recovery timelines can vary depending on the source of the issue, according to ESPN injury analyst Stephania Bell.
Redick: “He’s on His Own Timeline”
Before the team’s medical update Thursday, Redick said James remained “on his own timeline.”
“You’ve got to play the cards you’re dealt,” Redick said. “That’s a shame, but that’s just the reality. … No one has got any time with LeBron. That’s not just (Deandre Ayton), but everybody. (James) hasn’t been on the court with the team, but that’s just the reality.”
The Lakers are continuing to install their new offense and develop chemistry largely without James, and to a lesser extent Luka Dončić, who is taking a gradual ramp-up after a busy summer competing in EuroBasket.
Redick had hoped James and Dončić could play together in at least one preseason game as a “dress rehearsal” before opening night, but that plan is now off the table. The Lakers still expect Dončić to appear in at least one of their four remaining preseason games.
Impact on Lakers’ Early Schedule
If the full three-to-four-week recovery window holds, James would likely miss Los Angeles’ season opener against the Golden State Warriors on Oct. 21 and possibly several more games during a congested early schedule. The Lakers play eight games in a 13-day span beginning Oct. 24.
James has traveled with the team throughout the preseason, including to Palm Desert and San Francisco, while conducting individual workouts and on-court conditioning. Redick and his staff are emphasizing continuity among the available players until the All-NBA forward returns.
Deandre Ayton, one of the Lakers’ major offseason additions, said he’s eager to share the floor with the team’s two superstars.
“It’s something I’ve just been waiting on,” Ayton said. “Just got to prepare. JJ and the coaching staff probably have something where they can put stuff together for all of us to really grow chemistry.”
Lakers Managing Expectations
Since joining the Lakers in 2018, James has been central to their success — the team is 248–171 (.591) with him and 56–78 (.418) without him. His latest setback adds to a growing list of injuries that have limited him in recent seasons, but the organization is expected to prioritize long-term health over rushing his return.
James, who recently teased “The Second Decision” on social media for a cognac advertisement, has yet to publicly commit to whether this will be his final NBA season, saying only that retirement will come “sooner than later.”
The Lakers return to the court Sunday against the Warriors for their third preseason game.
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