As for the NBA, star player of the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James, will be sidelined for another three to four weeks. He is in recovery from sciatica that went down his right side. This injury has kept him from joining the team’s training camp. Consequently, he’ll miss the first two preseason games. The Los Angeles Lakers are preparing for their opening night match against the Golden State Warriors on October 21. At the same time, James’ absence is fueling concern over his preparedness for the upcoming NBA season.
After all, the first overall pick James, 40, is still unable to go through a full practice. Nerve irritation in his glute area is what’s keeping him down. As his sciatic nerve pain originates in his spine, so too does his journey down the leg. This discomfort significantly limits his capability to play at his normal level. Coach JJ Redick has indicated that James is progressing with the injury, but he is “on his own timeline,” leading to uncertainty regarding when he will return to the court.
We’ve seen how much the Lakers have missed James each game of the preseason. Those intangibles and skill set make him an indispensable asset for a squad determined to turn heads this year. As one of the NBA’s best players, James’ recovery will be followed with eagle eyes by fans and pundits—and possibly a few other players—as well.
The team continues to be hopeful that James will return this season. At the same time, they’re preparing for the possibility that he won’t be available when the regular season opens against the Warriors. This reality paints a picture of the struggles athletes encounter when dealing with the injury bug later in their career.
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