LeBron James began training camp sidelined with nerve irritation in his glute, but Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick said it would be "nice" if the 40-year-old were able to play in at least one preseason game. He said so before ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported that LeBron will "likely" miss the entire preseason with the injury.
On Thursday afternoon, Charania confirmed that not only will LeBron miss the full preseason, but also the start of the regular season:
Lakers star LeBron James is sidelined for at least 3 to 4 weeks due to sciatica on his right side. He is out for the start of the 2025-26 NBA season.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 9, 2025
It's not the end of the world that LeBron won't play in the preseason, and when he will make his regular-season debut is uncertain, but this isn't the news anyone had hoped for. It was clear that the Lakers would be cautious with LeBron's minutes after his camp approached the team before training camp began. Both sides want him to be ready for what will hopefully be a deep playoff run.
Missing the preseason to prepare for a long, grueling season is one thing, but dealing with an injury at this point in the season is another.
LeBron James will miss the start of the Lakers' season
Media day feels like it was months ago, and it was only last week. You could feel the excitement, from players to fans. Finally, the Lakers would come together in camp. There's been one problem, though. LA hasn't come together in camp. LeBron is out for at least a few weeks, Luka isn't hurt but hasn't played, and other players like Maxi Kleber and Marcus Smart are dealing with injuries.
The best-case scenario is that this will only be a minor setback for LeBron and that he'll be able to play again in a few weeks. It's important to note that he'll be re-evaluated in three to four weeks, and that doesn't mean that he'll play then.
LeBron has dealt with several injuries the past couple of years, which isn't unusual for someone who has spent as many years in the league as he has. He's evaded Father Time longer than any other player. When he's healthy, he's still a top player, easily.
The problem is that as you age, you don't get healthier, at least not in the terms of the NBA. If this is any indication of how the season will go in LA, 82 games could feel more like 164.