LeBron James might be sidelined until December! An NBA executive said his recovery pace isn’t what it used to be.

As of October 16th Beijing time, the exact timing of LeBron James’ first game in the 2025-26 season is still unknown, but an NBA executive told Lakers Daily that if this future Hall of Famer is out until December, it wouldn’t come as a surprise.

“Sciatica is incredibly painful,” the executive explained, “and LeBron’s recovery speed has declined compared to before. If he can’t play in October or November, I wouldn’t be shocked. The Lakers have to handle this injury with great caution, and I believe they will take a very conservative approach.”

Sciatica symptoms involve inflammation of the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back down the leg. While symptoms are usually mild, the severity can vary, and the pain can sometimes be intense. Reports indicate LeBron has been dealing with this injury since July.

The Lakers’ first game of the 2025-26 season is scheduled for October 22nd against the Warriors. The team will play six games in October and 13 in November.

LeBron will turn 41 in December. He is the oldest active player in the NBA and has been competing in the league since 2003.

During LeBron’s absence, the Lakers will rely on Doncic, Reeves, Hachimura, and Ayton to carry the scoring load. Last season, LeBron averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.2 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game. The four-time Finals MVP finished sixth in the regular season MVP voting and was named to the NBA All-Second Team.

LeBron is currently in the final year of his contract with the Lakers. The NBA’s all-time leading scorer will become an unrestricted free agent next offseason, marking the first time since 2018 he will have this status.

As one of the NBA’s 75 greatest players, LeBron led the Lakers to a championship in 2020 by defeating the Miami Heat in the Orlando Disney bubble. He remains one of the league’s top players, but for the first time in his career, he is no longer the centerpiece of his team. That role now belongs to 26-year-old Doncic.