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.
Bron has earned the right to leave whenever he wants. Teams are not forced to pay him lol.
2024-25 35 mins, 24.4 pts, 8.2 ast, 7.8 reb.
Luka is 26 and plays less defense than Bron his whole career. Yet You have never complained about him …..
You claim he not the best player on the lakers while also stating he dont play defense yet he plays more defense then Luka lmfaooo your funnyyy using defense lmfaooo 25/8/8 on 50%^^^ and 39/40% from 3!! Yea he can still play buddy—
is he better thabn Luka?
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?
He is not one of the best player the game anymore. He was the best player in the game. I don’t think people understand what winning basketball is. LeBron has not been top 4 since 2019. He was on the downside and is at the end now.
The reason why 90 players took a crazy drop after is because of the physicality of the game. Also LeBron still plays 36 min a game so his stats reflect that. However you seen over the last few years that he is infective in the 4th quarter. LeBron does not impact winning basketball still trying to be a superstar.
So on one had to be effective at 40 he needs to reduce his min to around 25-28 minutes a game. This would kill his numbers and he would be a low level all star. However as the person above said his ego is too big and he is playing for stats not to win championships.
Let me say this in caps before all the people say I’m a hater. LEBRON IS TOP 5/6 PLAYER OFF ALL TIME. He is no longer that player father time gets all of us.
Since 2019 lmfaoooooo yet won it in 2020 and playing like
Mvp if that season wasnt cut short he would have won mvp— yu haters b yapping bruh— he avgd 30 in 2021, 29 in 2022
Ya funny
Are you serious giannis was the MVP that season by far. And Again another championship won with bs. 3 month layoff. Not going to go over this again. Your name shows your a bandwagon fan. Again out side of the bubble championship isn’t been sweep after sweep. Great player he is done impacting winning basketball unless he plays a role and he would not have all Star numbers.
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.
I injured mine when I was in NYC on the subway sitting on the seats that are sideways pointing towards the middle of the train cab, and the train came to a sudden stop, and boom, felt like actual knives going in there
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
Yur funny
Whatever you do, don’t look up what Kareem did at age 40 and 41 and what kinds of teams he was on those years. Do NOT do that.
Kareem > Lebron. All day.
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.
He gave a Micky mouse clubhouse championship. There was a 3 moth layoff, that is equivalent to a full off season. So no he didn’t bring a traditional championship to the Lakers.
He has destroyed the Lakers and if it wasn’t for the NBA (trade of Luka that was really a trade for Flagg and AD) the Lakers would have nothing.
The team can not move on until one of two things. LeBron takes way less money or he retires.
“He has destroyed the Lakers”
They’ve played 53 playoff games in 7 years. Wear your emotions on your sleeve a little less if you want to be taken seriously.
The Lakers prior to LeBron gave Luol Deng 72M to play 57 REGULAR SEASON games. They gave Timofey Mozgov 48M over 3 years. But sure, LeBron destroyed them. Maybe look that word up in the dictionary.
Who was the GM when the Lakers gave those contracts out. We are talking since 2021 LeBron has destroyed the Lakers it’s facts. With AD all NBA player and LeBron that’s good enough for the playoffs. Your playing for championship and if it wasn’t for a 3 month break in the Season 2020 y’all have nothing. Lakers were at fault for the rebuild after Kobe, but after buss brother moved on and magic and Rob took over before LeBron they started making moves. Getting LeBron was good and the ship was going Right until 2021
Let me
Guess lebron was the only one whoo had the 3 month layoff lmfaoo yu right he was the only person who had the time off — everyone else had different circumstances infeel you lmfaooooooooo
I love you haters lmfao
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.
Bron knows he’s at the end. His contract expires this year ……. I bet he gets bought out at TD. And goes to Cavs to crush all Knicks fans hopes. He’s like that lols.