LeBron James is taking no chances ahead of his 23rd NBA season. The 40-year-old Lakers star will reportedly sit out the remainder of preseason as he continues to recover from a nerve irritation in his glute, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The move is part of a deliberate plan to have James fully ready for Los Angeles’ regular-season opener against the Golden State Warriors on October 21.
James has been participating in limited on-court work and is slowly ramping up his preparation.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick told reporters that the veteran forward is following a cautious progression toward opening night.
“It’s probably a little bit longer of a ramp-up leading up to opening night for him,” Redick said. “In year 23, uncharted territory here.”
Redick also reflected on last year’s approach, admitting the team may have overworked James during the 2024 training camp.
Despite the heavy workload, James showed little sign of slowing down last season, appearing in 70 games and averaging 24.4 points, 8.2 assists, and 7.8 rebounds in nearly 35 minutes per night.
Still, the Lakers’ staff remains focused on keeping him fresh for the long haul.
James missed several games last year due to lingering foot and ankle soreness and later suffered a sprained MCL in the playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves, an injury that could have sidelined him for weeks had the Lakers advanced.
Now entering his age-40 (turning 41 in December) season and still undecided on how much longer he’ll play, James’ focus is clear: being healthy when it matters most. The Lakers, with Luka Doncic alongside him, are aiming for another deep postseason push, and they’re not risking their superstar’s health to chase meaningless October minutes.
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