Oct 5, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; LeBron James (Gonzales-Imagn Images)
LeBron James fooled fans into thinking he had something important to announce after teasing The Decision 2 earlier this week, but there has actually been a significant development where his career is concerned.

The Los Angeles Lakers star is set to miss the start of the season and could be out for up to a month due to sciatica on his right side. He will be assessed again in three weeks to a month.

“Lakers star LeBron James will be sidelined for at least 3 to 4 weeks due to sciatica on his right side. He is out for the start of the 2025-26 NBA season,” ESPN reported on Thursday afternoon, crediting insider Shams Charania.

LeBron James Expected To Miss Lakers Preseason, But Not The Season Opener

LeBron James (Photo By Denis Poroy-Imagn Images)
The Lakers have been without LeBron in training camp, while he has missed their last two preseason games.

Head coach JJ Reddick previously told reporters that the veteran superstar is “on his own timeline.” And, while it was thought that he would miss the entire preseason, there was hope that he would be ready for the season opener.

James, who has since been sued over his “Second Decision” following a wild spike in ticket prices, is likely to miss the first 14 games of the season, and that’s just if everything goes well.

He has also been slammed by his new nemesis, Stephen A. Smith following the bogus reveal.

James’ absence will come as a huge blow to the Lakers, who pulled out all stops to pair him up with Luka Doncic last season and hope to contend in the upcoming season.

He has managed to remain healthy for most of his Lakers career, but time catches up to everyone, and he really may be on his last legs now.

Luka Doncic ‘destroys’ the Mavs on his return. Gets standing ovation and shows love to Mark Cuban

Luka Doncic hits 45 points in his first game in Dallas since being traded to the Los Angeles.

It’s rare for a home crowd to cheer the visiting team, but Luka Doncic’s return to Dallas was no ordinary night.

Just days before February’s trade deadline, the Mavericks shocked the NBA by sending their 26-year-old superstar to the Lakers—a move that outraged fans and sparked backlash toward GM Nico Harrison.

On Wednesday, Doncic played his first game back in Dallas since the trade. The arena was filled with fans in both his old Mavs and new Lakers jerseys, many chanting “Fire Nico” in protest.

Despite the emotion in the air, Doncic delivered a dominant performance, scoring a game-high 45 points to lead the Lakers to a 112-97 win. It was a powerful return for one of the league’s brightest stars—and a night Dallas won’t soon forget

The Mavericks pay tribute to Luka Dončić

While the Mavericks’ decision to trade Luka Doncic remains heavily criticized, they handled his return to Dallas with undeniable grace. The organization made sure his first game back as a Laker was met with respect and appreciation.

Every seat in the arena was draped with a T-shirt reading “Hvala za vse,” which translates from Slovenian to “thank you for everything.” It was a thoughtful nod to Doncic’s heritage and impact on the franchise.

Before tip-off, during the starting lineup announcements, the Mavericks played a tribute video showcasing some of Doncic’s most iconic moments in a Dallas jersey. The emotional gesture clearly resonated—moving Doncic to tears in front of the crowd that once called him their own.

Luka Doncic ‘DESTROYS’ his old team

Luka delivered a dazzling performance against his former team, putting up 45 points on 16-of-28 shooting, including 7-of-10 from beyond the arc. He also added 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals in a game that showed exactly why he’s one of the best in the league.

From the opening tip, Doncic was locked in. By halftime, Doncic had racked up 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting in just 19 minutes—marking the 10th time in his career he’s scored 30 or more in a single half.

Though his scoring slowed in the second half, he continued to lead effectively, securing both a Lakers win and an unforgettable showing for the fans in Dallas.