LeBron Sidelined! NBA Icon to Miss First-Ever Season Opener in Historic 23rd Year Due to Sciatica
LeBron James will miss the start of the 2025-26 NBA season after being ruled out for up to four weeks due to sciatica, the Los Angeles Lakers have confirmed. The 40-year-old star, who signed a new deal with the Lakers in June, is entering a historic 23rd NBA season—making him the first player to span such a long career in the league.
Sciatica, which causes pain along the sciatic nerve from the lower back down the leg, has kept James out of pre-season action. He missed recent games against the Golden State Warriors and the Phoenix Suns due to glute nerve irritation. Now, he’s expected to be absent for all five of the Lakers’ games in October, including the high-profile season opener against Golden State.
This marks the first time in his 22-season career that James will not suit up on opening night. Known for his durability and consistency, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer has played in 1,562 regular-season games—just 50 shy of Robert Parish’s all-time record of 1,611 appearances.
Despite his age, James remains a key figure for the Lakers, having played in 70 games last season and 71 the year before. As the team adjusts to his absence, they’ll look to other stars to step up in the early weeks of the campaign. Lakers fans will be hoping for a full recovery, as James looks to return to action and continue rewriting the NBA record books.
