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NBA fans may have to wait a little longer than expected to see LeBron James debuting in his 23rd season.
On Thursday, Los Angeles Lakers confirmed that James is experiencing sciatica. The team expects him to miss the next three to four weeks. Laker’s head coach JJ Redick added that James is “on his own timeline.”
James had already missed both of this month’s trouble -season with an lower body injury. He has not fully participated in training camp practices because of what Redick described in late September as “a little of nerve irritation in glute.”
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The Los Angeles Lakers tip LeBron James will appear during the first half of a NBA basketball match against Utah Jazz on February 10, 2025 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
Redick added that NBA’s leading leader in a few minutes “probably (needs) a little longer by a ramp-up leading to opening evening.”
According to John’s Hopkins, sciatica, also known as lumbar radiculopathy, “is a pain derived from (the) sciatic nerve” and radiates down the back of a affected person’s leg.
LeBron James is facing trial from fan who bought tickets that expected retirement announcement as ‘other decision’
Lakers have four matches left on their Forsonkplan. James’ latest setback will force him to miss the entire exhibition slate for the first time in his NBA career.
Los Angeles Lakers tip LeBron James sits on the bench during the first half of a game against the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco, California on Thursday, April 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Earlier this week, James revealed that his much teased “second decision” had nothing to do with his basketball forward. Instead, a social media roll-out helped launch an ad campaign for a Hennessy bottle with limited edition inspired by James’ signature crown movement.
LeBron James (23) from Los Angeles Lakers looks at Golden State Warriors during a timeout in the second half of an NBA game during the Chase Center on October 5, 2025 in San Francisco, California. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Lakers went 6-6 in competitions without James in the 2024-25 season.
Golden State Warriors will visit Lakers on October 21 to open both teams’ regular season.
