Why LeBron James isn’t playing for Lakers tonight vs. Pelicans with injury news, return timeline originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Lakers have played 12 consecutive games without their star forward, LeBron James.
James sciatica has forced the 40-year-old phenom to miss out on the exciting action to start the 2025-26 season.
Unfortunately, James absence streak will extend to 13 contests when the Lakers face the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night.
James hasnt progressed well enough to make his season debut with the Lakers on Friday night against the Pelicans.
That said, James is inching closer to a highly anticipated early-season return to the hardwood.
LeBron James practiced with the G Leagues South Bay Lakers again Thursday and did not experience any residual effects from Wednesdays workout, ESPNs Dave McMenamin reported Thursday.
“An encouraging sign after James first 5-on-5 play since the first round of the playoffs, more than six months ago.”
While the Lakers havent revealed a definite return date for James, a mid-November return still appears to be in play for the four-time NBA champion forward.
Will Los Angeles manage to continue keeping its head above water with James working his way back into the organizations lineup? Assuming Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves dont slow down anytime soon, the 17-time NBA champions should be just fine (they currently possess an 8-4 record).
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