LeBron James’ 2025-2026 NBA season has gotten off to a rough start.
The Los Angeles Lakers star will miss at least 3-4 weeks due to sciatica. The injury issue means he will not be available when the Lakers’ regular season begins on October 21.
For those who are unfamiliar, sciatica is when someone has pain going from their lower back down their leg. The cause of sciatica typically is a pinched nerve from a compressed disc in one’s lower back.
Many fans knew that sciatica is the type of injury that occurs more commonly in older people and is reflective of James being closer to retirement age.
Sciatica? Might be time to https://t.co/lBBKgC2dIc pic.twitter.com/xnAv0DBcbE
— danny (@redfaceradio) October 9, 2025
In case yall don’t know, sciatica is literally 80% common in older adults. Its really over 💔💔 https://t.co/u6wa7ubqGE
— ADHD (@ADHDGoat) October 9, 2025
lebron posting about playing golf with bronny for his 21st a couple days ago then him now being out for a month with sciatica is the most i have ever related to him. who among us in the 30+ crowd hasn't aggravated a lil sciatica issue on the golf course lol
— Robby Kalland (@RKalland) October 9, 2025
King got sciatica, old fella pains
— Scott Da Animal (@NYSAnimal) October 9, 2025
James is 40 years old and entering his 23rd season in the NBA. He has played 1,562 career regular season games and 292 career playoff games. That kind of mileage adds up over time, and it’s remarkable that he has been as healthy as he has throughout his career. Maybe things are starting to catch up to him now. Fans are fully expecting him to announce his retirement plans at some point prior to the season.