LeBron James will miss opening night time of his report twenty third NBA season on account of sciatica that will probably be re-evaluated in three to 4 weeks, the Los Angeles Lakers introduced Thursday.
The 40-year-old famous person will probably be sidelined at the very least till the tip of October with sciatica — ache within the nerves operating from the buttocks and down the again of the legs — on his proper facet.
James has but to take part in a full follow because the Lakers opened coaching camp final week, and coach JJ Redick stated James was “on his personal timeline” Thursday after follow. An hour later, the Lakers introduced an harm timeline which means James is more likely to miss at the very least their first 5 – 6 video games, and probably a number of extra.
The Lakers open the common season at dwelling Oct. 21 towards Golden State. They’ve eight video games in a 13-day span starting Oct. 24.
James started camp for his unprecedented twenty third NBA season final week with the lower-body nerve harm retaining him off the court docket. The Lakers held their sixth full follow of camp Thursday with out the highest scorer in NBA historical past, who additionally missed each of their first two preseason video games whereas he labored to get again into aggressive situation.
“You’ve bought to play the playing cards you’re dealt,” Redick stated. “That’s a disgrace, however that’s simply the fact. … Nobody has bought any time with LeBron. That’s not simply (new middle Deandre Ayton), however everyone. (James) hasn’t been on the court docket with the workforce, however that’s simply the fact.”
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Redick and the remainder of the Lakers expressed pleasure final week in regards to the probability to have their first full coaching camp along with James and Luka Doncic, who scarcely ever bought to follow together with his new workforce after becoming a member of Los Angeles in the midst of final season.
As an alternative, the Lakers are putting in their offense and constructing court docket chemistry throughout this camp largely with out James on the court docket. They’re additionally getting restricted time thus far with Doncic, who’s making a deliberate return to full pace after his participation in EuroBasket throughout a busy summer season.
The Lakers return to the court docket Sunday at dwelling towards Golden State.
Doncic participated in some full practices final week, together with scrimmages, however Ayton stated Wednesday that he would like to get extra follow time with the Lakers’ two greatest stars.
“It’s one thing I’ve simply been ready on,” Ayton stated. “Simply bought to arrange. JJ and the teaching employees in all probability have one thing the place they will put stuff collectively for all of us to actually develop chemistry.”
James traveled with the Lakers on their preseason journeys to Palm Desert, California, and San Francisco, however he has been performing particular person drills and doing his personal exercises.
James made information and scared his followers earlier this week when he teased “The Second Resolution” on social media — for what turned out to be an commercial for a cognac model.
James has repeatedly stated he doesn’t know whether or not he’ll retire after this season, solely saying that the tip to the longest profession in NBA historical past will probably be “before later.”
Redick had stated he was hopeful that James and Doncic would take part in at the very least one preseason sport that may very well be used as a “costume rehearsal” for the common season, however that gained’t occur.
Redick nonetheless expects Doncic to play within the preseason at the very least as soon as. The Lakers have 4 preseason video games remaining, together with two in Los Angeles.
Printed on Oct 10, 2025