LeBron James misses Lakers game with sciatica injury

The Los Angeles Lakers are without LeBron James again as they played their second game of the new NBA season, following a difficult opening loss to the Golden State Warriors.

The 40-year-old superstar is out with a sciatica injury affecting the right side of his body, according to reports from Shams Charania. Sciatica causes pain and weakness in the lower back, hips, and legs — an issue LeBron has never been known to suffer from before.

Doctors expect him to be out for three to four weeks, meaning the Lakers hope to have him back on the court by early November.

LeBron, who is in the final year of his contract worth $52.6 million, has made it clear he still plans to return this season — but the team is being cautious given his age and the nature of the injury.

With their captain sidelined, the Lakers will look to Austin Reaves to take on more playmaking duties alongside Luka Dončić, while Rui Hachimura and Dalton Knecht are also expected to get more minutes.

Managing without LeBron will be a challenge for Los Angeles, especially if they continue to struggle early in the season. Even when he returns, the Lakers are likely to limit his playing time to help prevent any further issues.