LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles superstar LeBron James is set to miss the Lakers’ NBA season-opener after the team said he will be sidelined three to four weeks with sciatica, multiple US media outlets reported on Thursday.
The Lakers revealed the diagnosis of right-side sciatica after the team’s practice, where the 40-year-old James again was not a full participant.
He missed the Lakers’ first two pre-season games with what Lakers coach JJ Redick called nerve irritation in his glute.
Sciatica is pain or numbness that follows the path of the sciatic nerve from the lower back down the leg.
The Lakers said James would be reevaluated in about three to four weeks and further updates would be provided at that time.
Redick said on Thursday that James and fellow superstar Luka Doncic were limited to “modified, mostly individual work” at practice.
The Lakers open their season against the Golden State Warriors on October 21.
ESPN had reported on Tuesday that James would likely miss all of the pre-season but had hoped to be ready for opening night.
The four-time NBA champion and all-time points scorer told reporters on media day last month that he was “excited” by the prospect of becoming the first player in NBA history to play a 23rd season.
“Whatever the journey lays out this year, I’m super-invested because I don’t know when the end is. It’s a lot sooner than later,” he said.
Earlier in the week, James announced his so-called “Second Decision” and it had nothing to do with the forward’s retirement.
Speculation ran rampant on Monday after James posted a brief video on X, but instead of leaving the Lakers or calling it a career, it all turned out to be part of a marketing campaign for Hennessy cognac.
In other news, former NBA star Paul Pierce was arrested on Tuesday night on suspicion of driving under the influence after California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers found him asleep behind the wheel on US Highway 101, authorities said.
CHP said officers were clearing a multi-vehicle crash on the northbound side of 101 and had several lanes closed during the investigation. When lanes reopened roughly an hour later, a Range Rover remained stopped in live traffic south of the crash scene.
Officers approached and found the driver, identified as Pierce, asleep and conducted a DUI evaluation. He was taken into custody on suspicion of misdemeanor DUI. The case will be forwarded to the Los Angeles city attorney for review. AFP, REUTERS
NBALos Angeles LakersLeBron James