LeBron James to Miss Lakers' Road Trip
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James will not travel with the team for their upcoming five-game road trip beginning Saturday as he continues recovering from sciatica on his right side, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Recovery and Timeline
Charania noted that the next stage of James’ rehabilitation involves participating in full 5-on-5 live play. This could happen against G League players or once the Lakers return from the trip in late November. Team staff still believe his return will be around mid-November.
“The next step for James in his rehab is 5-on-5 live play,” reported Shams Charania. “The team expects his debut around mid-November.”
Injury Background
In September, the Lakers confirmed that James had nerve irritation in his glute, sidelining him during the preseason. Later, the team stated that he would miss the season opener against the Golden State Warriors because of the continued sciatica issues.
Season Outlook Without James
The Lakers have performed well in James’ absence, beginning the season with a 6-2 record. Despite being 41 and the league’s oldest active player, James has remained impressively durable, appearing in 71 games two seasons ago and 70 last year, averaging 24.4 points, 8.2 assists, and 7.8 rebounds per game.
At his age, occasional minor injuries are expected, but the Lakers benefit from having another elite player in Luka Dončić, reducing the pressure on James to return prematurely.
Author’s Summary
LeBron James continues his recovery from sciatica and is expected to return around mid-November as the Lakers thrive early in the season without him.