Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, who has yet to participate in training camp, will miss the start of the season due to right-sided sciatica. The team announced on Thursday that he will be sidelined for an additional three to four weeks.
The 40-year-old James missed the Lakers` first two preseason games and has not yet completed a full practice, attributed by coach JJ Redick to “nerve irritation in his glute.”
According to sports injury analyst Stephania Bell, sciatica describes symptoms of irritation, inflammation, or compression of the sciatic nerve. This nerve originates in the lumbar (lower) spine, extends through the gluteal muscles and hamstrings, and then branches into smaller nerves in the lower leg and foot. Symptoms can range from sharp or burning pain to numbness, tingling, or a “pins and needles” sensation. Recovery time varies significantly depending on the underlying cause of the issue.
On Thursday, before the Lakers disclosed the sciatica diagnosis, Redick commented on James` recovery progress, stating the athlete was “on his own timeline.”
Should James remain sidelined for the full three to four weeks, he would miss the Lakers` opening night game against the Golden State Warriors, scheduled for October 21.
Earlier this week, Shams Charania reported that James was likely to miss the preseason but had aimed for a return to game action on opening night.
James is preparing for his record-setting 23rd season, surpassing Vince Carter for the longest career in NBA history.
Since James joined the Lakers in the 2018-19 season, the Los Angeles team has achieved a 248-171 record (a 59.1% winning percentage) when he is on the court. Without him, the Lakers` record stands at 56-78 (41.8%).
