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Will LeBron James Miss the NBA Season Opener?

Doubts are growing over the availability of Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James for the start of the new NBA season, after he was diagnosed with an injury expected to sideline him for three to four weeks.

According to U.S. media reports, “The King” is suffering from sciatica on the right side of his body. The condition was discovered after he missed team practices due to pain radiating along the sciatic nerve—from his lower back down to his leg.

The Lakers announced that James, 40, will be re-evaluated in three to four weeks, with updates to follow. Both James and his Slovenian teammate Luka Dončić are currently following individual training programs separate from team sessions.

ESPN reported that James will miss all preseason games but did not rule out the possibility of him playing in the season opener against the Golden State Warriors on October 21.

Once he takes the court this season, James will become the first player in NBA history to compete in a 23rd season. A four-time NBA champion and the league’s all-time leading scorer, he continues to set records even in the twilight of his career.

Recently, “The King” sparked widespread speculation after posting a video message on social media titled “The Decision of Decisions.” The clip turned out to be a marketing stunt rather than a retirement or career announcement ahead of the new season.

The video, posted Monday, triggered rumors suggesting that James might be preparing to announce his retirement at the end of his 23rd season. However, it was later revealed that the video was part of a PR campaign promoting James’s new partnership with a leading cognac brand, set to launch later this month.

The clip echoed his famous “The Decision” broadcast from 2010, when he announced his move from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Miami Heat—where he went on to win two of his four NBA titles.

Following the release of the video, ticket prices for Lakers games soared. Prices for the season opener jumped from $85 to $445 within hours on some resale platforms, while secondary markets reported even higher figures, ranging from $821 to $955 for the cheapest seats.

Last week, James stated that retirement is “coming sooner rather than later,” adding: “I’m happy I get to play this game that I love for another season. Whatever the outcome is, I’m fully committed—because I don’t know when it will end, even if the end is near.”

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