Report: LeBron James to miss the start of 2025-26 NBA season

Los Angeles Lakers star forward LeBron James will miss the start of the 2025-26 NBA season, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. James is expected to be sidelined for at least three to four weeks due to sciatica on his right side.

Charania reported earlier in the week that James was expected to miss the entire preseason. The goal being for him to be ready in time for LA’s season opener against the Golden State Warriors on Oct. 21. However, it appears James’ ailment is a bit more serious than originally anticipated.

James is entering his 23rd NBA season this year. The 40-year-old NBA star has played at least 70 games in each of the last two seasons.

The Lakers forward has continued to play at a high level despite his age, averaging 24.4 points, 8.2 assists and 7.8 rebounds per game last season. Alongside Luka Doncic, James helped lead the Lakers to a 50-32 record and a three-seed in the Western Conference Playoffs. However, the Lakers were bounced in the first round by Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Lakers head coach JJ Redick recently discussed James’ status heading into the preseason. He’s hinted at the sort of discomfort the four-time NBA champion has been experiencing on the practice floor.

“For him, it’s different in year 23,” Redick said. “Normal return to play protocol, we try to get 1-on-1, 2-on-2, 3-on-3 exposures versus coaches and then that eventually gets to 3-on-3 live. He knows his body and so we’ll work with him…on making sure he gets to the a point of comfort where he can sort of be a full participant.

“But he’s been on the court every day. He’s been in the weight room, continuing to get his body ready. But he’s been doing his individual workouts.”

James has been lucky throughout his career to have never suffered a major injury. During the 2020-21 season, James missed nearly half the year, only appearing in 45 games. Most recently, he was forced to miss some time last spring with a groin injury.

Despite all of this, he’s continued to perform at an elite level for the first 22 years of his NBA career. All signs point toward him continuing that trend in 2025. After all, he’s confirmed to be playing after his potential retirement scare that turned out to be an advertisement for Hennessy. Once he’s healthy, he’s expected to be back on the court and ready to lead the Lakers back to the postseason.