The Los Angeles Lakers will begin their 2025-26 campaign without their biggest star. LeBron James is going to miss the start of the NBA season as he recovers from a nerve-related injury.
LeBron James will miss start of NBA season
The Los Angeles Lakers confirmed on October 9 that LeBron James will not be at the start of the NBA season for approximately three to four more weeks due to sciatica affecting his right side. This announcement means the 40-year-old player has already missed the team’s preseason activities and is not expected to return before late October or early November.
If his recovery timeline holds, James will likely miss the Lakers’ highly anticipated season opener against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday, October 21. Head coach JJ Redick shared that the four-time NBA champion is “on his own timeline,” emphasizing that he won’t rush his return to the court. (via ESPN)
This season would be LeBron James’s historic 23rd year in the NBA, an unmatched feat in league history. Despite his current setback, he remains committed to the Lakers, having re-signed with the team in July 2024. The contract extension also allows him to share the floor with his son, Bronny James, making them the first father-son duo in NBA history.
When asked about his father’s future plans, Bronny told reporters in July that they “don’t really talk about it.” “I think when stuff like that does come up, he just tells me to not worry about it, to not even pay attention to it [and] just lock into what you have going on right now,” Bronny said. “That’s what’s going to get me better and keep me focused,” he added. (via ESPN)
As LeBron focuses on his recovery, Lakers fans will hope to see the basketball legend back in action soon and ready to extend his incredible career alongside his son.
Originally reported by Devanshi Basu on Mandatory
