Could LeBron James' Sciatica Injury End His Career? What Doctors Are Saying
LeBron James has not played for the Los Angeles Lakers this season as he recovers from a persistent sciatica injury. Initially, ESPN's Shams Charania reported in early October that the 40-year-old was sidelined due to nerve irritation in his glute and was expected to miss the entire preseason.
On October 9, the Lakers announced LeBron would be out for at least 3–4 weeks, but his recovery has extended beyond that. Before the Lakers' game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, coach JJ Redick stated that LeBron aims to return during the second or third week of November. This delay means the four-time MVP and veteran player will miss at least the first 10 regular-season games of his 23rd NBA season.
Expert Insight on Sciatica
EssentiallySports interviewed Dr. Jay Shah, Medical Director of Sports Medicine at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, who provided clarity on sciatica:
"Sciatica is an umbrella term and can mean a few different things. But overall, there is a nerve impingement."
"Recovery can take a couple of weeks or a couple of months."
Fan Speculation
The extended recovery period has led fans to speculate that this injury might influence LeBron’s decision to retire.
Summary
LeBron James’ ongoing struggle with sciatica has sidelined him early in the season, with doctors highlighting that recovery times can vary significantly, fueling retirement rumors among fans.
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