- He has been practicing with the team’s G League affiliate, including full five-on-five contact drills.
- LeBron James is not expected to rejoin the Lakers until after their current road trip ends in Milwaukee.
- When he returns, James will set an NBA record by becoming the first player to play in 23 seasons.
The Los Angeles Lakers star has returned to practice and is nearing his regular-season debut. Once he sets foot on the court, he’ll set an NBA record, becoming the first player in history to play in 23 seasons, breaking the tie he currently holds with Hall of Fame guard Vince Carter.
The Lakers are in New Orleans to face the Pelicans in an NBA Cup West Group B game Friday, Nov. 14 and then finalize their five-game road trip Saturday night against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Here’s everything you need to know about LeBron James’ injury heading into Friday night’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans:
Is LeBron James playing tonight?
No, the Lakers have officially listed James as being out on the injury report. He will miss his 13th game of the season and is likely to miss at least the next game following that. James has been in Los Angeles and is not expected to rejoin the Lakers until they conclude their current road trip, which ends Saturday, Nov. 15, in Milwaukee.
James has been practicing with the franchise’s G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers. As part of those sessions, James has been participating in full, five-on-five contact.
‘Got him up and down a bit with some warm-up and transition drills, and then progressed to five-on-five in halfcourt and got, I think, about 12 to 15 possessions of live five-on-five contact,’ Lakers coach JJ Redick said Wednesday, Nov. 12. ‘The reports are that he looked good.’
The Lakers, presumably, don’t need to rush James back, considering that they have started the season quite well, sitting at 8-4 and in fifth place in the Western Conference.
What is sciatica?
Sciatica is a pain caused by some level of irritation, pinching, or compression of the sciatic nerve, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
The sciatic nerve is located in the lower back and runs down the back of each leg. It begins from the lower part of the spinal cord and extends through the buttocks, back of the thigh and down to the foot.
As a result, the area of pain can range anywhere along the back of the leg.
What does this sciatica injury mean for LeBron James?
James has been one of the more dependable and available players, despite his age.
Still, he will turn 41 in late December and will likely need to manage his usage and body as the season progresses. Known for being a player who is exacting and meticulous about his body and his health, James will likely ensure he is fully healthy before making his return to the court. The Lakers are willing to give him the time and space to make sure that happens.
Given the timeline that Redick alluded to, James should miss no more than three-to-six games.
James has maintained that he wants to compete for NBA championships, so the nerve issue should not be a significant concern, provided the rest and recovery heal the injury. Given the length of the NBA regular season and playoffs, some missed time is to be expected for a player James’ age.