LeBron James will miss the beginning of the 2025/26 season, according to Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link), who reports that the Lakers star is dealing with sciatica on his left side that will keep him out for at least three to four weeks.
The Lakers open the season in 12 days, on Oct. 21 against the Warriors. If he returned at the very earliest of his projected timeline, James could be back for the team’s first NBA Cup game on Oct. 31. However, his return seems more likely to occur in early- to mid-November, barring any setbacks.
James, who has appeared in 1,884 total regular season and playoff games, played 71 regular season games in 2023/24 and 70 in his age-40 season in ’24/25. NBA insider Marc Stein adds that this will be the first time in James’ career that he’ll be out for opening night. He was previously 22 for 22 in that regard.
The 21-time All-Star kept up with his elite production in his age-40 season last year, averaging 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists per contest.
James missed the Lakers’ first two preseason games and all of training camp with what coach JJ Redick referred to as nerve irritation in his glute. Jake LaRavia started both of L.A.’s first two preseason games and is a candidate to fill in for James and keep an extended role once he returns.
Age is catching up to Lebron. Anyone over 40 knows the body slowly starts to shut down and those aches and pains are all the time. Lebron should make this his last season but will his ego allow him to retire.
“His ego”
I’m not a LeBron fan, but he’s still one of the best players in the game.
I imagine he’ll quit when he stops averaging 25 points, 8 boards and 8 assists a game.
Not anymore one of the best. I would not rank him in the top 10. He is not even the best player on the lakers. Stop living in the pass he is 40 now. He barely plays defense at times. let him retire at the top.
On both ESPN’s list and Locked on lists, he was ranked top ten still. Sorry, who are you for your ranking to matter!?
Plus, say he is top 15, isn’t that still pretty damn good!?
Do you understand he is 40! Espn is like his own new network. They rank him higher for clicks. If LeBron is top 10 with Luka too the Lakers would be favored to win it all.
I said he averaged 25-8-8 last year,
How is me stating his stats “living in the past”?
I couldn’t care less when he retires, I’m just not salty about it.
Never won a scoring title & played way longer than MJ who won 10 and longer than Kareem.
Luka is 26 and plays less defense than Bron his whole career. Yet You have never complained about him …..
Keep padding those stats, ESPN does it for James.
How does one “pad stats”
Please explain.
Does he get a 1.5x multiplier for his stats?
Hang them up
Always on IR
Old
Sciatica knocked me out for like 5-6 years, good luck with being better in 3 weeks.
Seriously, I’ve been in that struggle for about two years and even with consistent exercise and attentiveness to health still dealing with chronic sciatic pain. Most likely Lebron will have to deal with this for at least a few months even while he’s playing
People forget he is 40 and your body can not bounce back like it used to. Any type of bad twist can cause it to flare up.
Bet the under on the Lakers, it’s going to be a bad season.
Sciatica in an elite athlete at 40? Yeah, he may not play at all this season.
This is one of those conditions many of us normies can relate to. You don’t have to be old to injure your disks. I’ve had a bad lower back since I was 14.
I injured mine as a baby.
Mine was pre-womb.
Body telling him to stop, damn near 50.
I don’t think people who are 40 would appreciate you essentially saying they’re almost 50 lol. But yeah, this was bound to happen. It’s not even just the age; he has so many miles on those tires.
Jebron Lames wants no part of defensive conditioning.
And the lakers to struggle a little early. It is a contract year. Sciatica from holidaying, pppfffttt. The most narcissist person in the world.
Most? A bit dramatic? Like the 16 y/o girls that work for me. lol
James has been a prima-donna offense only (useless and mostly a liability on defense). He’s overpaid and left the Lakers without enough resources to pay other stars.
Now he’s out for who-knows-how-long with “nerve irritation in the glute.” So now this clown is out with a pain in the ass.
Pretty ironic since he’s been a pain in the ass for us Laker fans since he got to LA.
He gave you a Championship, a Conference Finals run, and 5 playoff teams in 7 years.
He gave you the Giannis in MIL experience in his late-30s.
LeBron should retire when he gets to where he can only average 16, 4, and 4.
Just kidding… I don’t want to watch him play til he’s 55 years old.