Lakers All-Star, forward LeBron James will miss the season opener with what the team says is a sciatica nerve injury on his right side, the team announced after practice Thursday. The Lakers said James will be re-evaluated in about three to four weeks and further updates will be provided at that time.
James, who is entering a record 23rd NBA season, has been limited to mostly individual workouts while dealing with nerve irritation in his butt during training camp. He did not play in the Lakers' first two preseason games.
When asked about managing the stars Luka Doncic and James during training camp before his superstar player, Lakers coach, was announced. JJ Redick told media that James, 40, was “on his own schedule.”
“You have to play the cards you're dealt,” Redick told reporters. “I know it's a cliché, but it's just reality… Nobody had time with LeBron… He wasn't on the court with the team. So it's just reality.”
The Lakers open the regular season on October 21 against the Golden State Warriors, but fans won't get to see legends James and Stephen Curry share the floor together. Crypto.com Arena.
The best-case scenario for James and the Lakers is for him to return in three weeks, meaning he'll miss the first five games and return to play Oct. 31 at Memphis.
James will miss the first nine games over a four-week period and return Nov. 8 in Atlanta.
James last spoke to the media at media day on September 29, and the conversation revolved around his retirement plans.
He didn't give a timeline at the time, largely brushing it off.
“I don't know,” James said then. “I'm really excited about today, I'm excited about the opportunity to play the game that I love for another season. And whatever the journey is, whatever it is this year, I'm just very invested because like you just said, I don't know when the end is, but I know it's a lot sooner than later.”
“So I'm just really grateful for the fact that I was able to come here and do another media day and talk to you guys and do it all here, so I'm just excited about the journey and everything this year has in store for me.”
James has just one year remaining on his contract with the Lakers, a $52.6 million option he exercised over the summer. He did not sign a contract extension with the Lakers, meaning James will be a free agent when the 2025-26 season ends and can sign with another team or retire.
James is the NBA's leading regular season scorer with 42,184 points. He played the second-most regular season appearances in history with 1,562, just 50 behind leader Robert Parish, a record James will have to break this season – although that schedule was delayed due to his sciatica injury.
He averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists last season and showed no signs of slowing down.
“I'm still inspired by the fact that the love for the game is still high,” James said at media day. “The love for the process is even greater. That's what keeps pushing me to play this game. I mean, it's really that simple. I train and work on my body and try every year to get my body as close to 100% as possible, it's kind of – it's a beautiful thing for me.”
“Just keep challenging myself to see how well I can push myself to play the game at a high level, recover at a high level, be able to sleep better, prepare mentally, try to stay in shape throughout a long season. And just the roller coaster of the NBA season, it's all fulfilling for me, no matter the good, the bad or the ugly. I love the process… There's so much that goes into it, more than just picking up a basketball and hit the ring.”
