LeBron James to miss Lakers’ opening game because of sciatica nerve issue

Lakers forward LeBron James will miss the season opener with what the team called a sciatic nerve injury in his right side, the team announced after practice Thursday. The Lakers said James would be re-evaluated in approximately three to four weeks and further updates would be provided at that time.

James, entering a record 23rd NBA season, has been limited to mostly individual workouts while dealing with nerve irritation in his glutes during training camp. He did not play in the Lakers’ first two preseason games.

Asked about managing stars Luka Doncic and James during camp before the announcement was made regarding his superstar player, Lakers coach JJ Redick told the 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’s spent time with LeBron. … He hasn’t been on the court with the team. So that’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 court together at Crypto.com Arena.

The best-case scenario for James and the Lakers would have him back in three weeks, meaning he would miss the first five games and return to play Oct. 31 at Memphis.

The four-week delay would force James to miss the first nine games and return Nov. 8 in Atlanta.

The last time James spoke to the media was during media day on September 29 and the conversation was about his retirement plans.

He didn’t give a timetable then, mostly ignoring it.

“I don’t know,” James said then. “I’m excited about today, I’m excited about the opportunity to be able to play a game that I love for another season. And whatever the journey is, however the journey goes this year, I’m just super invested, because like you just said, I don’t know when the end will be, but I know it’s a lot sooner than later.

“So I’m very grateful to be able to come here, do another media day, talk to you and do all this here, I’m so excited about the trip 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 contract option he exercised over the summer. He did not sign an extension with the Lakers, meaning James will be a free agent at the end of the 2025-26 season, free to sign with another team — or retire.

James is the NBA’s all-time regular season leading scorer with 42,184 points. He has played in the second-most regular season games in history with 1,562, just 50 behind leader Robert Parish, a record James is on pace to break this season – although that schedule was pushed back due to his sciatica injury.

He averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists last season, showing no signs of slowing down.

“What still drives me is the fact that the love for the game is still high,” James said at the media day. “The love of the process is even greater. That’s what continues to drive me to play this game. I mean, it’s as simple as that. I train and I work on my body and I try to get my body as close to 100 percent as possible every year, it’s something that’s like – it’s a beautiful thing for me.

“Just continue to challenge myself to see how much I can push myself to play at a high level, recover at a high level, be able to sleep better, prepare myself mentally, try to stay sharp throughout a long season. And just the roller coaster of an NBA season, it’s just like, rewarding for me, no matter the good, the bad, the ugly. I love that process. … There’s so much that goes into it, more than just picking up a basketball and shoot to the rim. “