LeBron James nearing Lakers return from sciatic nerve issue

LeBron James has been cleared for contact work and will be re-evaluated in one to two weeks, the Los Angeles Lakers announced Thursday, a key step toward a full return to game action for his 23rd NBA season.

James has been sidelined since the preseason with sciatica — a condition caused by irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower spine through the legs — which is affecting his right side. The issue has limited him to individual on-court work in recent weeks.

The Lakers’ star is not expected to join the team for its upcoming five-game road trip as he continues to build strength and conditioning in Los Angeles. ESPN reported the Lakers are targeting a return date around Nov. 18, when they host the Utah Jazz at Crypto.com Arena.

ESPN’s Shams Charania said Wednesday that “Lakers personnel are still operating under the belief that LeBron James’ debut will be around mid-November, but this is uncharted territory.” Charania added that the 40-year-old “has been working out individually, and I’m told the next step for him is five-on-five live play.”

Reporting for ESPN NBA Countdown on the next steps in LeBron James’ Lakers season debut process: pic.twitter.com/2wYSAhdOuL

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 6, 2025

Lakers coach JJ Redick addressed James’ progress last week.

“We don’t have a target date,” he said. “It’s just somewhere in that general timeline. We hope that he’s kind of checked all the boxes and is going to be back sometime in that second or third week in November.”

James has missed the team’s first nine games, putting his 21-year All-NBA streak in jeopardy under the league’s new 65-game minimum for award eligibility. The Lakers, meanwhile, have opened the season 6–3 and are third in the Western Conference.