LeBron James Delays Return to Court for 23rd NBA Season
LeBron James is taking his time returning to the court for his 23rd NBA season. The 40-year-old star of the Lakers will miss the opener for the 2025-26 NBA season due to sciatica, as reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania on the latest episode of “NBA Countdown.”
Initially, the Lakers announced last Thursday that James would likely sit out for three to four weeks. But it seems the timeline might be a bit more extended. Charania reported that a reevaluation will occur around October 30 and that they are “looking at mid-November” for his potential return.
The Lakers will kick off the season with a doubleheader on NBA Opening Night, hosting the Warriors after the Thunder face the Rockets, marking the league’s return to NBC.
As things stand, James is expected to miss at least the first 10 games of the Lakers’ season. The Lakers’ tenth game is slated against the Hawks on November 8, which will initiate a challenging five-game road trip that includes visits to Charlotte, Oklahoma City, New Orleans, and Milwaukee.
If James is able to return for the home game against the Jazz on November 18, he would then have missed 14 games.
Last season, James averaged 24.4 points, 8.2 assists, and 7.8 rebounds over 70 regular-season games. Although he opted into his $52.6 million player option this season, his agent Rich Paul hinted at the possibility of a trade request if the Lakers aren’t fully committed to pursuing a championship.
The Lakers seem to be shifting towards a new direction, especially after acquiring Luka Doncic from the Mavericks last season.
In late June, Paul stated, “LeBron wants to compete for championships. He understands that the Lakers are building for the future, but he values a realistic chance to win it all. We’re grateful for the eight-year partnership with Jeannie Buss and Rob Pelinka, who both consider the Lakers an integral part of LeBron’s career.”
Paul added, “We recognize the challenge of winning now while planning for the future. It’s important to assess what’s best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career. He wants to savor each remaining season, and the Lakers support him in that quest.”
