LeBron James' Nerve Injury Reportedly Developed in July, Latest Updates on Lakers Star

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has been dealing with the nerve issue that is expected to sideline him for the start of the 2025-26 season for more than two and a half months, ESPN's Shams Charania reported Friday.

Charania said Friday on NBA Today that James' injury "first occurred in late July, early August during an on-court workout."

Due to that injury, James "had not done much basketball for well over a month" prior to Sept 29 opening of training camp, per Charania.

ESPN's Dave McMenamin provided a deeper dive into how James' injury impacts the Lakers moving forward:

The Athletic's Dan Woike reported Thursday that James is expected to miss between three to four weeks, a span that includes the Lakers' season opener, with "sciatica on his right side."

"For him to be out to start the season, and miss his first ever opening night, it shows an admission by him and the Lakers that he needs more time to ramp up, get into basketball shape, get into the right basketball conditioning that he is accustomed to," Charania said. "He's not there yet."

Lakers head coach JJ Redick initially described James' injury at the start of training camp as nerve irritation in his glute.

When providing his latest update on James' condition, Redick said Thursday that James was "on his own timeline" in terms of recovery.

ESPN's Dave McMenamin has previously reported the Lakers plan to be "overly cautious" with James' ramp-up to the season.

Per McMenamin and ESPN injury analyst Stephania Bell, sciatica is defined as "the symptoms of irritation, inflammation or compression of the sciatic nerve," which originates through the lower spine and stretches through the glutes, hamstrings and lower leg and foot.

Symptoms range from pain to numbness and tingling, Bell and McMenamin reported.

James, 40, is heading into his 23rd season in the NBA as the oldest player in the league.

A three-week return timeline would place him back in the lineup ahead of the sixth game of the season, but Charania's report indicates Redick and the Lakers may need to brace for a potentially longer absence from the NBA's all-time leading scorer.

For now, the Lakers will prepare to play without James when the 2025-26 regular season tips off on Tuesday, Oct. 21 against the visiting Golden State Warriors.