Browsing: LeBron

The 2025-26 NBA season tips off Tuesday, marking the beginning of on-court storylines. However, that doesn’t mean players didn’t stay busy off the court during the offseason.

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From LeBron James picking up golf as a new hobby to Nikola Jokic celebrating with his horse, the NBA’s biggest names made the most of their offseason. Unlike 2024, which had the Paris Olympics, this summer had an open schedule, meaning limited NBA action and more time to hit the road.

Here’s a look at the top offseason moments, as told by social media.

Klay hard-launches new relationship

Klay Thompson sent shockwaves across the pop culture world with his July 12 Instagram post. Captioned “Sweet Bells son,” the Dallas Mavericks guard posted a photo collage of a recent vacation, but with a twist — he seemingly posed with rapper Megan Thee Stallion in one of the pictures.

Fans quickly speculated that the two were dating, sparking rumors of the relationship. It prompted comments from Kevin Durant and Dwight Howard and Ty Jerome, who wrote: “Woah hard launch.”

The two took the red carpet in New York days later, confirming their relationship.

LeBron, Bronny hit the golf course

A viral development of the offseason centered on LeBron James discovering his love for golfing. His first post arrived July 4, his second day playing. James said: “Boy o boy it’s a mind f— to say the least! But I think I enjoy that part of it a lot.”

He opened up about it on the “360 With Speedy” podcast last month.

“It’s hard as s—,” James said. “… I wanted a challenge, man, and I like being uncomfortable. Golf is like one of the few places where I can go where I don’t get bothered as much.”

LeBron wasn’t the only one with the golf itch in the James household — his oldest son and Los Angeles Lakers teammate, Bronny, also picked up the sport. Bronny had a smooth swing for someone who began playing four months before the video was posted.

French stars own the chessboard

San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama’s love for chess is no secret, with the center playing games in a New York City park last December. He took that affinity to another level during the offseason, hosting the “Hoops Gambit” tournament in his hometown of Le Chesnay, France.

Dozens of people competed, including Minnesota Timberwolves center and fellow Frenchman Rudy Gobert. The two even faced off in a game.

DEFENSE VS DEFENSE âŸï¸

Rudy Gobert pulled up to the Hoop Gambit event to play against Wemby 🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/3xsRw10ivi

— Chess.com (@chesscom) July 20, 2025

A celebration heard across the world

There aren’t many things Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic loves more than his horses — and he had the celebration to prove it.

Jokic was emotionally celebrating after his horse won a race in Subotica, Serbia, in late July. He teared up before hopping the gate to meet his horse and driver, then dumped champagne on the group and himself.

Days earlier, the NBA and Nuggets also posted a photo of Jokic tending to horses while in Beijing.

Allen makes his wedding dance worth it

In a summer full of weddings and engagements, Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen really nailed the execution. He made the most of his wedding with an impressively choreographed dance with his wife, Jordyn.

The couple found inspiration from the 2006 Disney film “High School Musical.” The final musical of the film is called “We’re All In This Together,” where the school joins in on a dance.

Allen and his wife performed the dance to the song at their wedding. The 6-foot-9 center also themed their wedding after the musical, captioning his wedding post on Instagram: “#We’reAllenThisTogether.”

Different continent, same demeanor

No opponent is safe from trash talk when it comes to Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards — not even a retired center.

Edwards traveled to China as part of Adidas’ “Believe That” tour with stops in Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu. During the trip, Edwards ran into Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Yao Ming.

Of course, the 6-foot-4 guard had to remind the 7-foot-6 Chinese center he wouldn’t be spared from being dunked on.

Durant trade news hits at perfect time

Arguably the biggest transaction of the offseason was the Phoenix Suns trading Durant to the Houston Rockets. Reported in late June, Houston sent Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in the 2025 draft and five second-round picks for Durant.

Durant had been the subject of trade rumors since the previous NBA trade deadline. However, the news of the deal broke at a time when cameras could catch Durant’s reaction.

The two-time NBA champion was being interviewed on stage at Fanatics Fest when the deal was reported. He could only smile as the crowd went wild.

A new way of staying ready

Vacations can sometimes interrupt proper workouts, but Russell Westbrook found a way to get around it.

The current Sacramento Kings guard was vacating on his yacht when videos caught him putting shots up. Westbrook had a hoop where he practiced dribbling and put up a jumper.

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Oct 16, 2025, 12:42 PM ET

Novak Djokovic says he has been inspired by LeBron James, Cristiano Ronaldo and Tom Brady as he targets continuing his professional career into his 40s.

“Longevity is one of my biggest motivations. I really want to see how far I can go,” Djokovic said Thursday at the Joy Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, ahead of appearing at the Six Kings Slam. “If you see across all the global sports, LeBron James, he is still going strong, he is 40. Cristiano Ronaldo, Tom Brady played until he was 40-something years old. It is unbelievable.

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“They are inspiring me as well, so I want to keep going, that is one of the motivations I have.”

The 38-year-old Djokovic has gone two years without winning a Grand Slam title, having been overtaken by Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, but says he is not yet thinking about hanging up his racket as he tries to win a 25th major to break the record for most Slam singles titles by a man or woman.

Djokovic’s comments Thursday had a different tone from what he said after being eliminated from Grand Slams this year. After losing to Sinner in the French Open semifinals, he hinted it could have been “the last match I ever played” at Roland Garros. Following a straight-sets loss to Alcaraz in the US Open semifinals, Djokovic lamented that he may not be able to beat Alcaraz and Sinner in the best-of-five-sets format of majors.

But he also had said he planned to play all four Grand Slams in 2026, and playing past 40 would extend his career at least into 2027.

Brady played quarterback in the NFL until he was 45, while James and Ronaldo are both 40 as they continue to play.

Djokovic, who co-founded the Professional Tennis Players Association in 2020, is also hoping to use his influence to improve the sport.

Leading players are pushing the Grand Slams for a greater share of revenue, while the PTPA launched lawsuits against tennis’ governing bodies earlier this year in an effort to force through changes.

“I want to also live to see — live meaning keep on playing professionally — what is coming for our sport, and I am super excited about it,” Djokovic said. “These are things I can’t be openly speaking about at the moment, but in the next couple of years, I feel like tennis is a sport that can be greatly transformed, and I want to be part of that change.”

Information from ESPN’s D’Arcy Maine and PA was used in this report.

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From the moment LeBron James†sciatica was announced, the most optimistic of return timelines seemed improbable. At best. To think he would only miss six games or so after having battled this nerve issue since late July or early August was highly unlikely, it was going to be longer (which is why our initial story suggested mid-November was more realistic).

Now comes the report that the Lakers are being “patient†and want the 40-year-old to return to full health, not rush him, which has them thinking mid-November for LeBronâ€s return, via Shams Charania of ESPN speaking on NBA Today.

“Iâ€m told that the Lakers and LeBron are looking at around mid-November as a realistic debut for him, and so October 30th would be the earliest that the Lakers would be officially reevaluating LeBron James, but it is expected he will need at least a few weeks after that point. A source told me tonight that LeBron will be taking a patient approach with this rehab from nerve injury.â€

That tracks with what we know about recovery from sciatica, it is not a fast process.

One of the most well known cases of sciatica in the NBA is LeBronâ€s Mind the Game cohost Steve Nash. Nashâ€s sciatica was linked to multiple bulging discs in his back and spondylolisthesis,

— Jeff Stotts (@InStreetClothes) October 9, 2025

His return ultimately depends upon healing whatever is compressing the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back through the hips and down the leg to the feet. The nerve can be compressed by a number of things, such as a herniated disc, a bone spur, muscle tissue after lifting something heavy incorrectly, or other issues.

LeBronâ€s injury is not going to hit the Lakers too hard on the court at the start of the season (he is out for opening night, Oct. 21, when the Lakers host Stephen Curry and the Warriors on NBC and Peacock). Luka Doncic is one of the great floor raisers of the game — just having him makes a team competitive — and he enters the season in the best shape of his life and playing with a chip on his shoulder. However, to reach their ceiling in the playoffs, the Lakers will need not only a healthy LeBron but him and Doncic (and Austin Reaves, and Deandre Ayton) on the same page and clicking. Building chemistry takes time and is the one thing delayed by his return.

LeBron averaged 24.4 points, 8.2 assists, and 7.8 rebounds a game and was named Second Team All-NBA. LeBronâ€s historic streak of making 21 consecutive All-NBA teams is in jeopardy this season because, after missing games to start the season, his ability to get to the 65-game cutoff (imposed by the league) is in question.

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Los Angeles Lakers guard Gabe Vincent caught fire from behind the arc in the first half of the team’s preseason matchup with Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday.

Vincent scored 22 points and dished out three assists through two quarters, shooting 6-of-10 from three-point territory. The Lakers led the Mavericks 66-53 at the half.

LeBron James gave a shoutout to the performance, while fans were also impressed with Vincent’s scoring outburst.

Rui Hachimura recorded 15 points on 7-of-12 shooting for the Lakers at the half, while Jaxson Hayes chipped in with nine points and six rebounds to go along with four assists.

Meanwhile, Flagg scored nine points in 17 minutes while shooting 4-of-7 from the field in the first half.

As for Vincent, he’s entering his third season in Los Angeles after signing a three-year deal worth $33 million with the organization during the 2023 offseason.

He was limited to just 11 appearances in his first year as a Laker due to a knee injury that eventually required surgery.

Vincent eventually came back to play in 72 contests last season, averaging 6.4 points and 1.4 assists in 21.2 minutes per game on 40.0/35.3/71.4 shooting splits.

This year, he’ll look to stand out in a crowded guard rotation that includes Luka DonÄić, Austin Reaves, Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia. Dalton Knecht is also a candidate to receive more playing time.

If Vincent can carry his momentum from Wednesday night into the regular season, it’ll be difficult for Lakers head coach JJ Redick to take him off the floor.

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Anyone can list the best players in the NBA, but basketball is as much about chemistry as it is talent. Within each of the league’s 30 teams is a hierarchy, and how well each of the five players on the court understands and performs his role within that hierarchy is every bit as important as his individual skill.

While depth was vital to the success of the Thunder and Pacers last season, and we understand coaches often say, “It’s about who closes the game; not who starts it,” the pursuit of a roster’s most cohesive five-man unit is still paramount. Three oflast year’s top four starting lineups on our list — the Thunder, Knicks and Timberwolves — reached the conference finals.

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In this series, we rank each team’s starters for a broader look across the league. Ideally, a lineup has its superstar, a deferential co-star, a third star who owns his role, a fourth option and a fifth starter to tie it all together — clear Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. How close does your team come to an ideal lineup?

(Taylor Wilhelm/Yahoo Sports Illustration)

No. 2 options: The Deferential Co-Stars

What is a No. 2? Here is how we described him last year:

He is, generally, the team’s second option on offense. He can be an All-Star. In fact, he better be one if you want to compete for a title. Maybe his skill level is a hair below his top teammate. Maybe his skill set is more complementary. Or maybe his personality is more obsequious.

Whatever the case, he understands he is not the No. 1, and that is what is most important. Teams do not reach their potential when the No. 2 believes he is the No. 1. All the greats had a Hall of Fame No. 2, and all of them knew where they stood. Bill Russell had Bob Cousy. Michael Jordan had Scottie Pippen. Larry Bird had Kevin McHale. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had Oscar Robertson, then Magic Johnson, and then Magic flipped it. Shaquille O’Neal had Kobe Bryant, who then had Pau Gasol. It has a way of sorting itself out.

We should add: Defense is a complementary skill! And maybe the most important one among No. 2 options. If a team’s No. 1 is ball-dominant, and he almost always is, then his offensive responsibilities often leave slack to be picked up on the defense end. How a co-star supports his leading man is every bit as important as his athleticism or skill. There is a little more dirty work to be done when you are a second option.

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What we have to decide here, then, is how to rank these players, by skill or by how well they complement a team’s top dog. Let’s call it a combination of the two, inviting even more subjectivity into this exercise. We ranked every co-star. You can debate us on their merits. And we’ll have fun doing it. How about that?

Lastly, we sourced these lineups and each player’s status within them with beat reporters around the league. We appreciate everyone who casted a roster; there are too many people to thank in this space. And we recognize that not every player listed here will be in an opening-night starting lineup. Injuries occur. Coaches change their minds. But just know that this is our best guess at the rotations we will likely see most often from each team.

On Monday, we ranked the No. 1 options. Without further ado, your five best No. 2s …

1. Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder

Welcome to our most controversial decision of 2025.

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Is Williams a better player than LeBron James right now? There is some question about that. James had the superior traditional statistics last season. He averaged a 24-8-8 to Williams’ 22-5-5, scoring more efficiently, too. This is probably why James appeared on the All-NBA second team, while Williams cracked the third team.

However, Williams surpassed James in several advanced metrics last season, including Daily Plus-Minus:

And Estimated Plus-Minus:

(via Dunks and Threes)

(Dunks and Threes)

This is probably because Williams also made the All-Defensive Second Team as someone who can and did defend all five positions. His impact on both ends of the floor was arguably broader. It easily was in the playoffs, where James’ Lakers were ousted as third-seeded favorites in five games of a first-round series with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Williams, playing on an injured wrist that required offseason surgery, helped the top-seeded Thunder to the title, even scoring 40 points in a pivotal Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

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What cannot be argued, really: Williams is the better complementary co-star to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in Oklahoma City than James is to Luka DonÄić in Los Angeles. There is overlap in the ball-dominant skill sets of James and DonÄić, and neither helps the other on the defensive end. Meanwhile, Williams is exactly who OKC needs him to be. Sometimes more, rarely less. He can and does do a bit of everything.

If you need everything from James, he might be able to give it to you on any given night. But if you are asking me: Who is the best No. 2 in basketball right now for the entirety of a season, including playoffs? I think you would be better suited to pick a 24-year-old rising co-star of a championship team over a 40-year-old who will miss the start of the season to sciatica, even if that 40-year-old is LeBron Effing James.

2. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers

What else is left to say about James? He is unquestionably on the Mount Rushmore of NBA legends, along with Jordan, Abdul-Jabbar and Russell. How you want to order them is your business, but nobody has sustained his greatness for as long as James has. Did we mention he is 40?

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Do you know how good you have to be in order to be among the league’s best second options at the age of 40? Your days as an All-NBA performer cannot be behind you. And James has proven, when healthy, he is still one of the league’s 15 best players. Remarkably, he has not missed an All-NBA team since 2004.

This season? It isn’t starting out great. Sciatica will, at the very least, cost James the first week of his 23rd campaign. Any time anyone mentions the phrases “40 years old” and “sciatica” in the same breath, I can feel the pain in my own backside, but this is LeBron James we’re talking about. He’s been a superhuman force for more than two decades, and we’ll not believe Father Time has him beat until the game is called.

That said: There is some question about his fit with DonÄić, especially on the defensive end. The Lakers allowed 117 points per 100 possessions whenever James and DonÄić were in tandem last season, which would have ranked 26th in the league if averaged over a full season. That weakness was their fatal flaw, and the Lakers did little to address it over the summer, choosing Deandre Ayton as their rim protector.

There is also some question about whether James understands he is the Lakers’ second option. He has never been that in his career — until now — and while he has said all the right things since Los Angeles’ acquisition of DonÄić, there is a difference between saying what is necessary to win games and doing it.

3. Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers

Besides Williams, Mobley was the only other player to crack both the All-NBA and All-Defensive rosters, making the second and first teams, respectively. He was also the league’s Defensive Player of the Year.

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The 24-year-old’s traditional statistics — 19-9-3 on 56/37/73 shooting splits — may not jump off the page, but he is capable of everything on a basketball court at nearly 7 feet tall, drawing favorable comparisons to a young Kevin Garnett. Offensively, he is a threat from the perimeter, the post or anywhere between, generating open looks as a scorer, a passer and a screen-setter. On the other end, he can defend all five positions in space or at the rim. He is long and athletic and skilled, all the physical attributes you’d want.

Is he as manically driven toward superstardom as KG was? That is the question, for Cleveland’s prospects as a title team — and not the second-round fodder it has been for the past two seasons — hinge on the development of Mobley. Here is a vote of confidence in his pursuit of an even higher spot on this list.

4. Jimmy Butler, Golden State Warriors

Butler was a No. 1 option for the Miami Heat when last we visited this exercise a year ago and a damn good one at that. He led the Heat to NBA Finals appearances in 2020 and 2023 and demanded a trade last season once it became clear he could no longer reach those heights with their deteriorating roster.

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He landed in Golden State, where the Warriors were phenomenal in his brief time on the team. They finished 23-7 down the stretch with him in the lineup, outscoring opponents by double digits per 100 possessions whenever he was on the floor. They ousted the second-seeded Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs and only lost in the Western Conference semifinals once Stephen Curry was hurt.

While Butler can still be a bona fide No. 1 if need be, his skill set is perfectly suited to complement any superstar, including Curry. He creates turnovers on defense and does not commit them on offense. Likewise, Butler gets to the free-throw line on offense and does not foul often on defense. He wins possessions, and over the course of a 14-year career that relentlessness has won more games than not.

5. Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks

If only Butler knew how close Towns has drawn to him on this list. Towns was once considered a losing player, perpetually missing the playoffs on the Minnesota Timberwolves. They broke through to the 2024 Western Conference finals with him as their second-best player, supporting Anthony Edwards, only to trade him to New York, where he helped Jalen Brunson’s Knicks to the 2025 Eastern Conference finals.

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That’s right: Karl-Anthony Towns, my friends, is a winning basketball player. The Knicks were seven points per 100 meaningful possessions better when he was on the court during the regular season, according to Cleaning the Glass, and even better (+8.7) in the playoffs, ousting the defending champion Boston Celtics.

There is still some concern about whether Towns’ defensive issues — along with those of Brunson — will ultimately set New York’s ceiling below championship level, but the East is as open as it has been in some time. If they are to win it, it will be on the defensive improvement of Towns, but as is he is an All-NBA third-team member who averaged a 24-13-3 last season on 53/42/83 shooting splits. Pretty freaking good.

The honorable mentions

6. De’Aaron Fox, San Antonio Spurs

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7. Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic

8. Alperen Şengün, Houston Rockets

9. Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets

10. Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies

11. Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat

12. James Harden, LA Clippers

13. Julius Randle, Minnesota Timberwolves

The rest

14. Derrick White, Boston Celtics; 15. Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers; 16. Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks; 17. Brandon Ingram, Toronto Raptors; 18. DeMar DeRozan, Sacramento Kings; 19. Trey Murphy III, New Orleans Pelicans; 20. Jalen Green, Phoenix Suns; 21. Myles Turner, Milwaukee Bucks; 22. Michael Porter Jr., Brooklyn Nets; 23. Brandon Miller, Charlotte Hornets; 24. Jaden Ivey, Detroit Pistons; 25. Shaedon Sharpe, Portland Trail Blazers; 26. Bennedict Mathurin, Indiana Pacers; 27. Klay Thompson, Dallas Mavericks; 28. Khris Middleton, Washington Wizards; 29. Matas Buzelis, Chicago Bulls; 30. Ace Bailey, Utah Jazz

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San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama named former franchise legend Tim Duncan as part of the best NBA starting lineup of all time.

Wembanyama listed the Hall of Famer alongside LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Michael Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal when describing his all-time starting five at the 12:40 mark of Tuesday’s episode of LOL Network’s Cold As Balls with Kevin Hart.

The episode aired after Wembanyama debated in September on a live Q&A broadcast on the Spurs’ Instagram whether Duncan or Kobe Bryant would be ranked higher on the NBA’s all-time list.

Duncan, who won two MVP awards and five NBA titles during his legendary 19-year career with the Spurs, has reportedly been involved in Wembanyama’s development since the franchise drafted the star in 2023.

Wembanyama, who missed the end of the 2024-25 season following the diagnosis of a blood clot in his right shoulder in February, has reportedly gained both height and weight while training for his return. ESPN’s Michael C. Wright reports that he has also “added upper- and lower-body strength” ahead of his age-22 campaign.

The 7-foot-4 center will look to follow in Duncan’s footsteps by leading the Spurs back to postseason contention, starting with next Wednesday’s season opener against the host Dallas Mavericks.

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  Dave McMenaminOct 11, 2025, 05:33 PM ET

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  • Lakers and NBA reporter for ESPN.
  • Covered the Lakers and NBA for ESPNLosAngeles.com from 2009-14, the Cavaliers from 2014-18 for ESPN.com and the NBA for NBA.com from 2005-09.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — While LeBron James is expected to be sidelined to begin the season as he recovers from sciatica on the right side of his body, the Los Angeles Lakers’ other superstar, Luka Doncic, said he doesn’t feel compelled to do more in James’ absence.

“I don’t view it that way,” Doncic said after practice Saturday. “I just want to play basketball. If I do less, if I do more, whatever it takes for me to get a win.”

So far without James and Doncic, the Lakers are winless in the preseason, going 0-2 against Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors.

L.A. hosts Golden State in a preseason rematch Sunday, and Lakers coach JJ Redick said it is still being determined if Doncic will play.

Sunday starts a stretch of three preseason games in four days for the Lakers, continuing with a road game against Phoenix on Tuesday and the second night of a back-to-back against the Dallas Mavericks in Las Vegas on Wednesday.

Redick said Doncic would play in two of L.A.’s remaining four preseason games.

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Doncic was a full participant on Saturday after having his workload modified all week to save the 26-year-old guard some wear and tear after he played for Slovenia in EuroBasket this summer.

“I had [the] national team,” Doncic explained. “Playing one month or something of basketball [for Slovenia]. Obviously it’s a long season ahead, so just because of that.”

Now Redick has his work cut out for him trying to fill in for James while he is sidelined for the next three to four weeks before his sciatica is scheduled to be reevaluated.

“You hope that he’s back soon,” Redick said. “Those things can be tricky. … It is unclear what the starting lineup is going to be, that’s the reality, until he is back. We’ll have to figure that out.”

Doncic, guard Austin Reaves and center Deandre Ayton will occupy three of the five spots.

It’s the other two starting spots that Redick will examine, with Rui Hachimura starting 57 of the 59 games he played for L.A. last season under obvious consideration. Jarred Vanderbilt, who has started both preseason games so far and is the healthiest he has been since the Lakers’ 2023 trip to the Western Conference finals and free agent signees Jake LaRavia and Marcus Smart give the team different options offensively and defensively.

Smart, who has also been sidelined to start the preseason because of Achilles tendinopathy, will play against the Warriors, according to Redick.

Redick said he has thought about having one lineup and rotation that fits best together when James plays and a separate one for when he doesn’t.

Doncic said he and James have “talked a lot” while observing the Lakers practice from the sidelines during training camp, which has helped with chemistry.

For the time being, all Doncic and the Lakers will be getting out of James during games is what the 40-year-old can provide with his voice from the bench.

“It’s a big change,” Doncic said of having to play without James. “He’s a great player. He can help us a lot. But at the end of the day, our mentality needs to be ‘next man up.’ We got a group of guys that have been practicing and hopefully LeBron can join us as soon as possible. We are going to obviously need him. But our mentality has got to be ‘next man up.’ That’s it.”

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Luka DonÄić says the Los Angeles Lakers need to embrace a “next man up” mentality while preparing to start the 2025-26 season without LeBron James.

The Lakers announced Thursday that James, who has not yet participated in training camp, will be sidelined for at least three to four more weeks with sciatica on his right side.

“It’s a big change. He’s a great player. He can help us a lot. But at the end of the day, our mentality needs to be next man up,” DonÄić said Saturday (h/t ESPN’s Dave McMenamin).

When asked if James being out will leave him to take on a higher workload, DonÄić answered, “No, I don’t think so.”

While DonÄić’s role might remain similar in James’ absence, at least one Lakers bench player will need to step into the starting lineup alongside Austin Reaves and Deandre Ayton.

Head coach JJ Redick said Saturday that the Lakers have not game-planned yet, and that he is not yet sure who will be replacing James in the starting lineup.

“It is unclear what the starting lineup is going to be. That’s the reality, until he’s back,” Redick said Saturday (h/t McMenamin). “We’ll have to figure that out.”

James, who is set to become the first player in NBA history to compete in 23 seasons once he makes his 2025-26 debut, has not played an 82-game campaign since 2018.

Given that it’s likely James will be sitting out games even after he returns from his current injury, Redick will need to be prepared to take on opponents both with and without the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.

Redick said Saturday that the Lakers could “potentially” plan two starting lineups this season, for both when James is available and when he is not.

At least for now Redick will hope DonÄić can lead the Lakers offense when the regular season tips off on Tuesday, Oct. 21 against the visiting Golden State Warriors.

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  Dave McMenaminOct 9, 2025, 05:23 PM ET

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  • Lakers and NBA reporter for ESPN.
  • Covered the Lakers and NBA for ESPNLosAngeles.com from 2009-14, the Cavaliers from 2014-18 for ESPN.com and the NBA for NBA.com from 2005-09.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, who has yet to participate in training camp, will be sidelined an additional three to four weeks because of sciatica on his right side, the team announced Thursday.

James, 40, missed the Lakers’ first two preseason games and has yet to participate in a full practice because of what coach JJ Redick described as nerve irritation in his glute.

Sciatica describes the symptoms of irritation, inflammation or compression of the sciatic nerve, according to ESPN injury analyst Stephania Bell. The nerve originates from a cluster of nerve roots in the lumbar (lower) spine and travels through the gluteal muscles and the hamstrings before branching into other smaller nerves in the lower leg and foot. Symptoms can range from pain that can be sharp or burning to numbness and tingling or pins and needles. Resolution time varies widely and depends on the source of the problem.

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When asked Thursday for an update on James’ progress with the injury, before the Lakers released the sciatica diagnosis, Redick said James was “on his own timeline.”

Should James continue to be sidelined for the full three to four weeks, he would miss the Lakers’ opening-night game against the Golden State Warriors on Oct. 21.

ESPN’s Shams Charania reported this week that James would likely miss the preseason but had been targeting opening night for his return to game action.

James is embarking on a record-setting 23rd season, breaking a tie with Vince Carter for the longest career in NBA history.

Since James joined the Lakers in 2018-19, Los Angeles is 248-171 (a .591 winning percentage) with him on the court. When he does not play, the Lakers are 56-78 (.418).

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While the Lakers just announced this week that LeBron James is suffering from sciatica and will be out for the first couple of weeks of the season — at least — it turns out he has been dealing with this for months.

LeBron first started experiencing sciatica nerve pain in late July or early August during on-court workouts, reports Shams Charania of ESPN on NBA Today. Here is what he said:

“My understanding is this injury for LeBron, this nerve issue, first developed, first occurred, in late July, early August, during an on-court workout. So itâ€s now two-and-a-half months and counting that heâ€s had to deal with it and manage it. So even before the Lakers†Media Day on Sept. 29 and the start of training camp, Iâ€m told LeBron James had not done much basketball for well over a month prior to that. So it had been a normal routine summer for him. Heâ€s a creature of habit, we know that by the way he maintains his body. So for him to be out to start the season and miss his first-ever Opening Night, it shows an admission by him and the Lakers that he needs more time to ramp up, getting into basketball shape, getting into the right basketball conditioning that heâ€s accustomed to. Heâ€s not there yet.â€

Because of the pain on his right side — the sciatic nerve runs from the tailbone down the leg to the feet — LeBron has been limited in his workouts, both physically and on the court. Once heâ€s pain free, itâ€s going to take time for him to get his conditioning up to speed and shake some of the rust off his game. All that can take longer at age 40. LeBron will be re-evaluated in 3-4 weeks, but could well be out longer.

For the Lakers, that puts more on Luka Doncicâ€s plate to start the season. It will also start to give GM Rob Pelinka and the Lakers front office a view of what Austin Reaves looks like as the No. 2 option next to Doncic. Reaves can be (and is expected to be) a free agent next summer, and the Lakers have to decide if heâ€s worth it to them to pay him $25-30 million a season and keep him around, or if they should look elsewhere.

How this injury heals — and whatâ€s causing the compression of the sciatic nerve, whether itâ€s muscular, a herniated disc, or something else — could also impact LeBronâ€s decision about how much longer he wants to play. LeBron is entering a record 23rd NBA season and will be a free agent next summer, giving him a lot of options for what the final year or years of his playing career could look like.

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