Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James Has Been Dealing With Sciatica Since Late July
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has been dealing with sciatica on his right side since late July, according to NBA insider Shams Charania of ESPN.
James will miss the start of the 2025-26 season, marking the first time in his Hall of Fame career he won’t play on opening night.
“My understanding is this injury for LeBron, this nerve issue, first developed, first occurred in late July, early August during an on-court workout,” Charania said. “So it’s now two and a half months and counting that he’s had to deal with it and manage it. So even before the Lakers media day on September 29 and the start of training camp, I’m told LeBron James had not done much basketball for well over a month prior to that.
“So it hasn’t been a normal routine summer for him. He’s a creature of habit. We know that the way he maintains his body. So for him to be out to start the season and miss his first-ever opening night, it’s shown an admission by him and the Lakers that he needs more time to ramp up, get into basketball shape, get in the right basketball conditioning that he is accustomed to. He’s not there yet.”
James, 40, is the oldest active player in the NBA. He turns 41 in December and has been in the league since 2003.
James’ camp conveyed to the Lakers to be “overly cautious” with him this season, according to NBA insider Dave McMenamin of ESPN. The leading scorer in NBA history appeared in 70 games last season. He averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.2 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.6 blocks and finished sixth in MVP voting and made the All-NBA Second Team.
James has one year left on his contract with the Lakers. He becomes an unrestricted free agent next offseason for the first time since 2018.
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