LeBron James, a prominent player for the Los Angeles Lakers, is aiming to make his return to the court around mid-November following a bout with sciatica, as reported by Shams Charania of ESPN on Wednesday. The Lakers had previously announced on Oct. 9 that James would be sidelined for a period of 3-4 weeks. However, Charania mentioned that James, who is 40 years old, intends to adopt a “patient approach” throughout his recovery process.
Earlier in the month, reports had emerged indicating that James was grappling with nerve discomfort in his gluteal region and would likely be absent for the entirety of the NBA preseason. It was also reported that James was gradually increasing his training regimen in preparation for the Lakers’ opening game of the season against the Golden State Warriors on Oct. 21. Nevertheless, the anticipated timeline for his return has been adjusted, suggesting that he will be unavailable for his team’s inaugural game of the season, marking the first instance of such an occurrence in his illustrious 23-year career.
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If James remains out of action until mid-November, there’s a possibility that he could miss the initial 10-15 games of the season. The Lakers are scheduled to embark on a five-game road trip, commencing in Atlanta against the Hawks on Nov. 8, and they won’t be back in Los Angeles until Nov. 18 for a game against the Utah Jazz. The matchup against the Hawks will mark the 10th game of the season for the L.A. team.
Of particular significance is that NBA awards, encompassing titles such as MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and All-NBA selections, mandate that players participate in a minimum of 65 games. During the 2024-25 season, James posted averages of 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists across 70 games played, ultimately earning him a spot on the Second-Team All-NBA.
