One of basketball's most iconic players, LeBron James, is expected to begin his incredible 23rd NBA season on the sidelines rather than on the floor. The 40-year-old great will be out of play for at least three weeks due to sciatica affecting his right side, the Los Angeles Lakers said Thursday.

James will be reassessed at the end of October or the beginning of November, according to team officials, based on how well he recovers. The Lakers are getting ready to start their season with a big home game against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday, October 21. The game will now take place without their star player on the court, so it's a devastating blow.

LeBron James might return as early as October 30 if he stays out for the next three weeks as anticipated. By then, he will have missed at least five games. The Lakers' cautious approach makes sense given the situation and the people they are trying to protect.

James has bucked the usual course of aging sportsmen, even as he approaches his 40th birthday. The 21-time All-Star has shown remarkable tenacity over the last two seasons, playing in 70 games last season and 71 the previous one. Minor setbacks did arise — a sore foot that kept him from the 2025 All-Star Game and a groin issue that sidelined him briefly in March — but nothing significant enough to halt his momentum for long.

He kept performing on the court as if he had never aged. James averaged 24.4 points, 8.2 assists, and 7.8 rebounds per game last season, demonstrating that his talent hasn't diminished but rather grown. He reaffirmed his dedication to the team by exercising his $52.6 million player option earlier this offseason, but it also sparked rumors about how many more seasons he intends to play for the team.

The Lakers' hopes of winning a title now depend heavily on LeBron's health as Luka Dončić gets ready for his first full season in Los Angeles. They know a run at the title demands their four-time Finals MVP at his best — and so, at this point in the season, restraint is the smartest play they can make.

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