Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James will miss the start of the regular season due to sciatica on his right side, the team announced Thursday.
The Lakers’ first game of the season is on the NBA’s opening night, when they will face the Golden State Warriors on Oct. 21 at 9 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
Los Angeles says James will be evaluated for a return in three to four weeks, potentially putting James in line to take the court as early as Oct. 29 against the Minnesota Timberwolves or Oct. 31 against the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Lakers are currently in the middle of preseason play, which began on Oct. 3. James, however, has not participated in a full practice or a preseason game yet.
When asked by reporters Thursday if James would be ready to take the court soon, Los Angeles head coach J.J. Redick said, “He’s on his own timeline.”
James, who will be 41 in December, is entering his 23rd season in the NBA. After missing over 20 games in both the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons, James played in at least 70 games in each of the last two years.
In 2024-25, James averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists per game during the regular season. The Lakers made a surprise move in February, trading James’s friend Anthony Davis for superstar Luka Doncic.
In the playoffs, the James, Doncic and the Lakers lost in five games to the Timberwolves. After the series, ESPN reported James sprained his MCL in his left knee during the Game 5 loss.
