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4h ago

Lakers Target Mid-November Return for LeBron James After Sciatica Setback

Re-evaluation is expected around Oct. 30 with a cautious ramp-up to follow.

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PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 03: Jarred Vanderbilt #2, LeBron James #23, and Rui Hachimura #28 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during a timeout in the second half of a game against the Phoenix Suns at Acrisure Arena on October 03, 2025 in Palm Springs, California. (Photo by Katharine Lotze/Getty Images)
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Overview

  • ESPN’s Shams Charania reports the team and James view mid-November as a realistic season debut after weeks of rehab and conditioning.
  • This will be the first regular-season opener James misses in his 23-year career, with the timeline traced to a nerve issue that surfaced in late July or early August.
  • An unnamed executive suggested a December return is possible, underscoring the uncertainty around sciatica recovery and the Lakers’ patient approach.
  • A mid-November return would cost James roughly 10–15 games, putting the NBA’s 65-game award eligibility threshold in tighter reach.
  • With James out, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves are set to shoulder larger roles as coach J.J. Redick calls the condition “tricky,” and other Lakers injuries add short-term rotation pressure.