What you need to know
The Los Angeles Lakers’ NBA season will start differently this year.
The Lakers announced on Thursday, October 9th, via ESPN, that LeBron James, 40, will be sidelined for at least three to four weeks due to sciatica in his right side. James has already missed the Lakers’ first two preseason games.
If the basketball star misses the entire schedule, he will miss the team’s season opener against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday, Oct. 21.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, sciatica “occurs when irritation, inflammation, tightness, or pressure affects one or more nerves that travel from the lower back to the legs.”
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In addition to pain, side effects include tingling or numbness in the back and buttocks, which may spread to the legs.
According to Yahoo!, James has been sidelined since the start of training camp due to what the team diagnosed as “inflammation of a nerve in his hip.” Sports.
According to ESPN, Lakers head coach JJ Redick said James is “on his timeline” when asked for an injury update on Thursday.
Earlier this week, James caused a stir when he teased a big announcement on Monday, Oct. 6, calling it “a whole decision.” Fans initially assumed it was a retirement announcement, but it turns out the big secret was an advertisement for Hennessy.
James is about to begin his NBA-record 23rd season. In July 2024, he re-signed with the Lakers and shared the court with his eldest son Bronny, 21.
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As for what his father plans next in the sports world, Bronny told reporters in July that it’s something he “doesn’t really talk about.”
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“I think when something like that happens, he just tells me not to worry about it, not even pay attention to it, just focus on what’s happening right now,” he said. “That’s what makes me better and keeps me focused. I think it’s good that he told me not to pay attention to that.”
