When the Los Angeles Lakers open the 2025-26 NBA season, they’ll be missing the league’s all-time leading scorer.
The Lakers announced Thursday, Oct. 9 that LeBron James has been dealing with a sciatica issue on his right side and will be reevaluated in three-to-four weeks. The Lakers had previously said that James was dealing with nerve irritation in his glute.
With the Lakers set to tip off their regular season Tuesday, Oct. 21 against the Golden State Warriors, that timeline sidelines James for the opener and beyond. The Lakers also have a nationally-televised game Friday, Oct. 24 against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
James has not played in either of Los Angeles’ two preseason games thus far, and he has not practiced fully with the team, though he has been a constant presence in the facility. Recently, James was spotted jogging around the court, putting up shots and layups, though he was doing so casually, not wearing any socks.
Lakers coach JJ Reddick had said Thursday, Oct. 8 that James was “on his own timeline” in his progression from the injury.
What does this mean for the Lakers?
Los Angeles, which is trying to compete in the Western Conference as James is entering the final season of his contract with the team, will likely lean even more heavily on star guard Luka Dončić.
James, however, averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists per game last season and remains a key piece of the Lakers’ offense. The team will miss his passing and play-making ability, and defenses are likely to devote extra attention to Dončić while James is sidelined. In theory, teams will likely try to force the ball out of Dončić’s hands, putting more pressure on guard Austin Reaves and forward Rui Hachimura to hit shots.
Although James’ time on the sideline will come early in the season, the Lakers nonetheless cannot afford to fall behind too much in a Western Conference that is loaded with talented teams.
The Lakers could opt to start forwards Jarred Vanderbilt or Jake LaRavia in James’ place, or Reddick could opt for a smaller lineup with guards Marcus Smart or Dalton Knecht on the floot.
What does this mean for LeBron James?
This will mark the first time that James misses a season opener. Set to enter his NBA record 23rd season, James has been one of the more dependable and available players, even despite his age.
Still, James will turn 41 in late December and will likely need to manage his usage and body as the season progresses. Known for being a player who is exacting and meticulous about his body and his health, James will likely ensure he is fully healthy before making his return to the court.
Once he is cleared, however, James may still need some time to acclimate to game speed, as he has missed the bulk of training camp with the nerve issue.
If James is cleared three weeks from Thursday, James would potentially be available to return for Los Angeles’ sixth game of the season, against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, Oct. 31.
If the timeline is pushed to four weeks, James could potentially miss the first nine games of the season, with a Saturday, Nov. 8 contest against the Atlanta Hawks being a potential return.
James has maintained that he wants to compete for NBA championships, so the nerve issue should not be a significant concern, provided the rest and recovery heals the injury. Given the length of the NBA regular season and playoffs, some missed time is to be expected for a player James’ age.
