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15h ago

LeBron James to Miss Lakers Opener as Sciatica Timeline Shifts to Mid-November Target

The Lakers are pursuing a cautious ramp-up with an Oct. 30 re-evaluation after a summer sciatica flare sidelined the 40-year-old.

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Oct 12, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Lebron James (23) looks on from the bench during the first half against the Golden State Warriors at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Overview

  • ESPN's Shams Charania reports James is aiming for a mid-November debut, marking the first opener he has missed in his 23-year career.
  • A key checkpoint is a re-evaluation around Oct. 30, and he is expected to need additional conditioning work before returning.
  • The nerve issue began during a late July or early August workout, with most outlets describing it as right-side sciatica.
  • Head coach JJ Redick has called the situation "tricky" and reiterated the plan to be overly cautious with James' return.
  • An unnamed NBA executive told Lakers Daily he wouldn't be surprised if the absence extends into December, while Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves shoulder lead roles and Jake LaRavia and Jarred Vanderbilt see more frontcourt time.