Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James will miss the team’s preseason opener against the Phoenix Suns due to nerve irritation in his glute.
Sources told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin that both the Lakers and James’s camp believe rest and therapy will allow him to recover fully before the regular season begins.
The Lakers have approximately three weeks until opening night, and the current plan prioritizes getting James fully healthy over early preseason appearances.
James’s absence from the preseason debut does not necessarily rule him out for all exhibition games, but he will sit out Friday’s matchup in Phoenix.
Entering his 23rd NBA season, James has averaged 28.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game over his career, with a 41.3-minute average across 1,562 regular-season games.
The 40-year-old also boasts 20 All-Star selections and five NBA championships, most recently winning in 2020 with the Lakers.
The Lakers open their 2025-26 preseason schedule on October 3 in Phoenix and will continue with games against Golden State, Dallas, and Sacramento before the regular season opener.
Coach JJ Redick and the Lakers staff emphasized the importance of taking a long-term approach to James’s health, noting that managing an injury this late in his career requires careful monitoring.
