Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is set to miss the start of the season due to sciatica, which will sideline him for three to four weeks. The team announced this Thursday, confirming that James has not yet participated in training camp.
The 40-year-old James missed the Lakers` first two preseason games and hasn`t had a full practice. Head coach JJ Redick previously described his condition as “nerve irritation in his glute.”
According to injury analyst Stephania Bell, sciatica refers to symptoms of irritation, inflammation, or compression of the sciatic nerve. This nerve originates from a cluster of roots in the lumbar (lower) spine, travels 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 greatly depending on the underlying cause.
Before the official sciatica diagnosis was announced, Redick noted that James was recovering “on his own timeline.”
If James remains sidelined for the full three to four weeks, he will miss the Lakers` season opener against the Golden State Warriors, scheduled for October 21. It was previously reported that James would likely miss the preseason but was targeting the regular season opener for his return.
This season marks James`s record-setting 23rd in the NBA, surpassing Vince Carter for the longest career in league history.
Since James joined the Lakers in the 2018-19 season, the team holds a 248-171 record (59.1% winning percentage) when he`s on the court. Without him, the Lakers` record is 56-78 (41.8% winning percentage), highlighting his significant impact.
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