LeBron James, the Los Angeles Lakers forward and four-time NBA champion, will miss around three to four weeks after being diagnosed with sciatica, the team confirmed on Thursday. The announcement comes less than two weeks before the 2025–26 NBA season opener, where the Lakers are set to face the Golden State Warriors. The 40-year-old superstar will be re-evaluated later this month, with medical staff adopting a cautious approach to his recovery.
According to a statement from the Lakers, James had been experiencing persistent nerve irritation on his right side since the start of training camp and had not taken part in full practice sessions. The condition has now been identified as sciatica, a nerve-related injury that can cause sharp pain and muscle weakness.
