Overview

• James, 40, will miss the Oct. 21 season opener against the Warriors and is sidelined for the rest of preseason.
• Head coach JJ Redick described the issue as a mild nerve irritation in the right glute tied to the sciatic nerve.
• This will be the first time in his 23 NBA seasons that James does not play in a season opener.
• He was limited to individual work in camp and sat out the first two preseason games due to right-glute discomfort.
• The absence delays his pursuit of the all-time games-played mark, with roughly 50 appearances needed to reach Robert Parish’s 1,611, and outside reports suggest an early November return is possible if progress allows.