James missed at least five regular season games due to injury, and the Lakers new trio s running-in plan was postponed

Translator's Note: The original article was published in The Athletic. The data in the article are as of the time of the original publication (October 10, local time). The dates and times involved are all local time.

The Lakers announced on Thursday that team forward LeBron James will miss the season opener due to right sciatica. This is the first time in his career. James, who is about to enter his 23rd NBA season, will be re-examined in three to four weeks.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, sciatica is "nerve pain caused by injury or irritation of the sciatic nerve." It affects one or more nerves that run from the lower back through the buttocks and down the sides of the body into the legs.

The 40-year-old James missed training camp and the first two preseason games earlier this month due to nerve irritation in his hip. Now, according to the current schedule, James will miss the entire preseason and at least the first five games of the regular season.

This will also be the first time in James' career that he will miss the entire preseason. Previously, James' earliest record of missing a game in the regular season was in the 2019-20 season, when he missed the Lakers' fourth game of the season.

The Lakers will face the Warriors at home on October 21 to start the regular season.

James rarely makes public appearances this season. He has been absent from practices and games since taking questions at Lakers media day. In addition, James announced on social media this week that he would make "Decision 2", which triggered crazy speculation that he might announce his retirement. It was later discovered that James was actually advertising for an alcohol brand, and the campaign drew widespread criticism.

James will indeed return to the game this season, but it will take a few more games to return. James may miss the regular season games against the Warriors, home game against the Timberwolves, away game against the Kings, home game against the Trail Blazers and away game against the Timberwolves. Lakers head coach JJ Redick said after Thursday's practice that James "has his own recovery timetable."

After the team's first training on September 30, Redick said that the Lakers and James are handling the matter carefully because the veteran "may need a little longer to prepare for the opener." Redick added that James was dealing with nerve irritation in his hip.

At that time, Redick's hope was that James could play at some point in the preseason, with the main goal being to be ready for the opener. Now, the team will lose the leader in total playing time in NBA history in the next period of time.

Last season, the Lakers achieved a record of 6 wins and 6 losses in games where James was absent. That includes a 2-1 record when Anthony Davis plays and James is out; and a 3-2 record when Luka Doncic plays and James is out after Davis was traded. While James is absent from training camp, the Lakers are also carrying out load management on Doncic, who performed brilliantly on behalf of the Slovenian men's basketball team in the European Championships this summer.

Doncic missed the Lakers' first two preseason games and did not participate in training this week. New starting center Deandre Ayton mentioned he hasn't had much opportunity to practice with James or Doncic, a question Redick responded to after Thursday's practice.

"You have to play the cards you're dealt," Redick said. "That's the reality. Ayton practiced with Luka for a few days last week. But no one can practice with LeBron (James). Not just Ayton, it's everyone."

The Lakers' next preseason game is Sunday at home against the Warriors. Whether Doncic can play at that time has not yet been determined.

The Lakers will need to find a new starter to partner with Doncic, Ayton, Austin Reeves and previous starter Rui Hachimura. The team may use forward Jared Vanderbilt, new player Jake Laravia, or another new player Marcus Smart who has just returned to practice after being absent due to Achilles tendinitis and the flu.

James was selected to the All-Star for the 21st consecutive season last season and was selected to the NBA All-NBA Team (Second Team) for the 21st consecutive season. During this offseason, James exercised his player option and will become a free agent in 2026. This will be the first time in his career that his contract does not contain any subsequent options after the current season.

Author: Jenna West & Law Murray

Translator: GWayNe

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