Los Angeles Lakers star and Akron native LeBron James is entering his 23rd NBA season, but he will not be ready to go on opening night, according to reports.

Per reporting from The Athletic's Dan Woike , James will be sidelined for three to four weeks as he deals with sciatica on his right side.

That timeline will force him to miss the Lakers 2025-26 regular season opener against Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors on Oct. 21.

According to the Cleveland Clinic , sciatica occurs “when irritation, inflammation, pinching or compression affect one or more nerves that run down your lower back and into your legs.”

James' return to the court will be reevaluated after that three- to four-week timeline to see where he stands in his recovery. HoopsHype noted this will be the first

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