Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James will miss another three to four weeks due to sciatica on his right side, Afrosport reports.
The 40-year-old has not taken part in training camp or the Lakers’ first two pre-season games, with head coach JJ Redick revealing earlier that James was dealing with nerve irritation in his glute.
Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve — which runs from the lower back through the glutes and legs — becomes irritated or compressed, often causing sharp pain, numbness, or tingling sensations. Recovery times vary depending on the severity and source of the issue.
Redick said James is currently “on his own timeline” as he works towards recovery. If his absence lasts the full estimated period, he could miss the Lakers’ season opener against the Golden State Warriors on 21 October — marking the first time that he misses an opening game in his illustrious career.
James is set to begin a record-breaking 23rd NBA season, surpassing Vince Carter for the longest career in league history.
Since joining the Lakers in 2018, the team has a .591-win rate with him on the court, compared to .418 when he’s unavailable. He averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists per game across 70 appearances last season, while shooting over 50% from the field.
