LeBron James is giving himself time to recover from a sciatic nerve flare‑up before his 23rd NBA season begins. The 40‑year‑old Los Angeles Lakers star was placed on the injured‑reserve list in late October, and the team said the injury could keep him out for the first 10 games, possibly up to the 14th if he returns on the home‑court home game against the Utah Jazz on November 18.
Laker officials and the NBA announced that James is “taking a patient approach” to the sciatica that has been nagging him during practice.
A check on October 30 will decide whether the Lakers can aim for a mid‑November debut. The team’s schedule opens with a double‑header on Tuesday night: the Lakers face the Golden State Warriors while the Oklahoma City Thunder play the Houston Rockets, both on NBC’s return to the league’s opening night.
The Lakers’ first ten games stretch from the Warriors opener to a game against the Charlotte Hornets on November 8 and a five‑game road trip to the Atlanta Hawks, Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder, New Orleans Pelicans and Milwaukee Bucks.
James missed most of last season’s regular season because of a thigh injury, but he finished with strong numbers—averaging 24.4 points, 8.2 assists and 7.8 rebounds over 70 games. He exercised his $52.6 million player option for the 2025‑26 season, but his agent Rich Paul hinted that the Lakers might need to ensure they’re building a championship‑contending roster.
After last year’s trade for Luka Dončić, the Lakers appear committed to setting up a new era while still offering a realistic path to a title. Paul told ESPN that LeBron “wants to compete for a championship” and values a realistic chance to win it all, while the Lakers remain supportive of his goals.
Source: New York Post
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