LeBron James won’t be on the court when the Los Angeles Lakers start their season later this month. The 40-year-old star has been diagnosed with sciatica, an issue that will keep him out for at least three to four weeks, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
The pain is reportedly on his right side and comes after a difficult offseason filled with rehab. James spent the summer recovering from a left knee MCL sprain suffered during last year’s playoffs. He was already limited at the start of training camp because of nerve irritation in his glute, which forced him to sit out several practices.
Now, the sciatica has become a more serious concern. The team expects him to miss all of preseason and the first few games of the regular season, including the Lakers’ October 21 opener against the Golden State Warriors. That means fans will have to wait to see another LeBron vs. Steph Curry showdown.
Fans react as Lakers brace for a slow start
The news has sparked frustration among fans on social media. “That’s how you know you’re getting old. The sciatic nerve starts barking,” one fan joked on X, while another simply wrote, “Nooooo!”
James’ recent injuries have raised new questions about how much longer he can play at a high level. The four-time MVP and four-time NBA champion is entering his 23rd season and has played more than 66,000 combined minutes in his career – regular season and playoffs included. According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, the Lakers planned to manage his minutes this year to keep him fresh for the postseason.
Without him, head coach JJ Redick will rely on Anthony Davis and new additions to carry the offense through October.
A strange week off the court
LeBron also made headlines for a different reason this week. After teasing fans with a mysterious “major announcement,” he revealed a new commercial partnership with Hennessy, not a retirement or team-related update as many expected.
Adding to the odd week, TMZ reported that a Lakers fan has filed a lawsuit against James, claiming he was “misled” into buying tickets to what he thought would be LeBron’s final NBA game.
While that story will likely fade, the bigger issue remains LeBron’s health. His comeback timeline is uncertain, and at 40, every injury carries a little more weight. For now, the Lakers, and the league, will have to start the season without one of basketball’s biggest stars.
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