At the age of 40, LeBron James is set to begin his record-setting 23rd NBA season, but he’s doing so banged up.
James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, is also entering the final season of his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers after he opted into his $52.6 million player option in late June.
The Lakers are tipping off their season Tuesday, Oct. 21 in Los Angeles against the Golden State Warriors on the NBA’s opening night. The game will tip off at 10 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on NBC.
Here’s everything you need to know about LeBron James’ injury heading into Tuesday night’s opener against Warriors:
Is LeBron James playing tonight?
No, the Lakers have said that James will miss the first few weeks of the regular season. The team made the announcement Thursday, Oct. 9 that James was dealing with a sciatica issue on his right side and that he would be reevaluated three-to-four weeks from then. The Lakers had previously said that James was dealing with nerve irritation in his glute.
James did not play in a single preseason game this year and did not practice fully with the team. He was a constant presence around the team at the UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, California but was limited in his basketball activities. He was spotted jogging around the court recently, putting up shots and layups, though he was doing so casually, not wearing any socks.
Lakers coach JJ Reddick had said Thursday, Oct. 8 that James was “on his own timeline” in his progression from the injury.
This will mark the first time in James’ career that he misses a season opener for any reason.
What is sciatica?
Sciatica is a pain caused by some level of irritation, pinching, or compression of the sciatic nerve, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
The sciatic nerve is located in the lower back and runs down the back of each leg. It begins from the lower part of the spinal cord and extends through the buttocks, back of the thigh and down to the foot.
As a result, the area of pain can range anywhere along the back of the leg.
What does this sciatica injury mean for LeBron James?
James has been one of the more dependable and available players, despite his age.
Still, James will turn 41 in late December and will likely need to manage his usage and body as the season progresses. Known for being a player who is exacting and meticulous about his body and his health, James will likely ensure he is fully healthy before making his return to the court.
Once he is cleared, however, James may still need some time to acclimate to game speed, as he has missed the bulk of training camp with the nerve issue.
If James is cleared three weeks from the day of the Lakers’ original announcement, James would potentially be available to return for Los Angeles’ sixth game of the season, against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, Oct. 31.
If the timeline is pushed to four weeks, James could potentially miss the first nine games of the season, with a Saturday, Nov. 8 contest against the Atlanta Hawks being a potential return.
James has maintained that he wants to compete for NBA championships, so the nerve issue should not be a significant concern, provided the rest and recovery heals the injury. Given the length of the NBA regular season and playoffs, some missed time is to be expected for a player James’ age.