It won’t be an ideal start to LeBron James’ record 23rd NBA season after the 40-year-old superstar will miss opening night due to sciatica, according to multiple reports.

Per the reports, James will be re-evaluated in three to four weeks.

ESPN’s Shams Charania was first to report the news.

CNN has reached out to the Lakers for comment.

The NBA’s all-time leading scorer has not been a full participant in Lakers practice since the opening of training camp earlier this month and has also missed the team’s first two preseason games due to what head coach JJ Redick said is a nerve irritation in his glute.

The NBA world was left stunned this week as reports confirmed that LeBron James will miss the start of the 2025–26 season due to a recurring sciatica flare-up, marking one of the rare occasions in his storied 22-year career that the superstar has been forced to the sidelines at season tip-off.

Sources close to the Los Angeles Lakers organization have described the situation as “worse than we thought,” revealing that LeBron’s condition has been causing significant discomfort for weeks — and that the team’s medical staff has made the difficult decision to rest him indefinitely until he fully recovers.

The news comes as a blow to both the Lakers and the league, which had been gearing up for another highly anticipated season featuring the 40-year-old legend’s ongoing pursuit of basketball history.

LeBron, who remains the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, was expected to headline the Lakers’ season opener and continue his unprecedented longevity campaign.

Instead, he’s now facing what insiders describe as a “pain management and rehabilitation period” that could keep him out for multiple weeks — or longer if symptoms persist.

Sciatica, a nerve condition that causes pain radiating from the lower back down the leg, is notoriously difficult to manage for professional athletes. For someone with LeBron’s workload — decades of explosive movement, contact, and constant travel — even a minor flare-up can significantly impact mobility and explosiveness.

“This isn’t something you can just play through,” one medical source said. “When you’re dealing with nerve pain, especially at LeBron’s age, rest and recovery aren’t optional — they’re essential.”

Insiders say LeBron first began feeling tightness and shooting pain during private offseason workouts in late August. At first, he reportedly downplayed the issue, believing it was routine soreness. But by mid-September, the discomfort worsened, and he began experiencing intermittent numbness down his right leg.

An MRI later confirmed inflammation around the sciatic nerve, prompting the Lakers’ medical team to shut him down immediately. “He wanted to push through it — that’s just who he is,” one team insider revealed. “But everyone around him knew it wasn’t smart. The staff told him straight up: if you don’t take care of this now, you could risk your entire season.”

The Lakers have since confirmed that LeBron will undergo an extensive rehabilitation program, focusing on reducing inflammation, strengthening core muscles, and improving flexibility.

Team sources say the plan will be cautious but deliberate, aiming to have him back at full strength by mid-November or early December. “There’s no timeline yet, but the goal is to get him 100% healthy,” head coach Darvin Ham told reporters. “We’re not rushing this. He’s too important to risk long-term damage.”

For LeBron, who has famously prided himself on his durability and rigorous training regimen, the setback is undoubtedly frustrating. The four-time NBA champion has long been hailed for his ability to defy age and maintain elite physical condition well into his 40s.

Over the past two seasons, he’s continued to post All-NBA-level numbers while balancing leadership duties, media commitments, and mentoring his eldest son, Bronny James, who joined the Lakers earlier this year.

“LeBron’s body has taken him further than anyone thought possible,” a former teammate said. “But even the best machine in the world needs maintenance. He’s smart — he’ll use this time to reset.”

Still, the timing couldn’t be worse for Los Angeles. The Lakers were hoping to build early-season momentum with LeBron leading a retooled roster featuring Bronny, Anthony Davis, and several new additions.

Without their captain, the team will now have to rely heavily on Davis’s offensive output and the growing confidence of younger players. “It’s definitely a big adjustment,” Davis admitted after practice. “But we know what’s at stake. The goal is to keep things steady until the King’s back.”

NBA analysts have already begun debating what LeBron’s absence means for the Lakers’ playoff hopes — and for his own career longevity. At 40, he’s already achieved virtually everything possible in the sport: four championships, 20 All-Star selections, two Olympic gold medals, and the top spot on the all-time scoring list.

Yet his competitive drive remains unmatched. “Knowing LeBron, he’s probably more frustrated about missing two games than most players would be missing twenty,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on NBA Today. “He hates sitting out — but he also understands that this is about preserving what’s left of his career.”

Medical experts suggest that with proper rest and rehabilitation, LeBron can return to form — though they caution that sciatica can be unpredictable. “You can treat the symptoms and strengthen the surrounding muscles,” explained Dr. Mark Phillips, a sports medicine specialist. “But flare-ups can reoccur, especially with high-impact activity. The key will be managing his workload going forward.”

Fans, meanwhile, have flooded social media with messages of encouragement. “We’ve seen him come back from worse,” one supporter wrote on X. “He’s LeBron James — the man’s built different.” Others noted that the injury underscores the sheer longevity of his career, given that he’s played more minutes than almost anyone in NBA history. “Twenty-two years at that level — of course the body’s going to talk back eventually,” another fan commented.

LeBron himself broke his silence on Friday, posting a short but heartfelt message to his followers: “Been through storms before. This one’s just another test. I’ll be back soon — stronger than ever. Appreciate the love, y’all. 👑🙏🏽” His message quickly went viral, racking up over 5 million likes in under 24 hours.

For now, the Lakers’ medical team is prioritizing patience and prevention over speed. LeBron is expected to remain with the team during his recovery, attending practices, mentoring players, and maintaining his leadership presence from the sidelines. “Even when he’s not on the floor, his influence is felt everywhere,” said assistant coach Phil Handy. “He’s still our leader — and when he comes back, you can bet he’ll remind everyone why he’s the King.”

While the setback serves as a reminder that even the greatest athletes are human, few doubt LeBron’s ability to bounce back. His entire career has been defined by overcoming adversity — from championship heartbreaks to injuries and critics — only to return stronger each time. As one veteran NBA executive put it, “You never bet against LeBron James. Ever. He’ll be back, and when he is, the rest of the league better be ready.”

Until then, Lakers fans — and the basketball world at large — will be watching closely, hoping that this is just a temporary pause in the remarkable journey of one of the greatest players the game has ever seen.

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On Thursday, Redick said that James is “on his own timeline” ahead of the Lakers’ opening game of the regular season on October 21 against Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors at the Crypto.com Arena.

Sciatica is pain that originates in the spine and radiates down the back of the leg.

James, who has been the subject of retirement rumors for much of the last year, is entering a record-setting 23rd season in the league.

Last season, James averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists in 70 games.

The four-time NBA champion was non-committal about his future following the Lakers’ first-round loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA playoffs earlier this year.

“I don’t know. I don’t have the answer to that,” James told reporters. “Something I’ll sit down with my family, my wife and my support group and kind of just talk through it and see what happens and just have a conversation with myself on how long I want to continue to play. I don’t know the answer to that right now, to be honest, so we’ll see.”

In June, James reportedly picked up his $52.6 million option to return for an eighth season with the Lakers.

James is a 21-time All-Star and four-time league MVP and has scored a record 42,184 regular-season points, and 50,473 in the regular season and playoffs combined.

James entered the NBA as an 18-year-old after being selected No. 1 in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. He turns 41 in December.