LeBron James won’t suit up for the Los Angeles Lakers against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, but the real story isn’t his absence — it’s how close he is to coming back. The 40-year-old superstar, whose full name is LeBron Raymone James Sr., is officially listed as ‘Out’ due to right sciatica, according to the NBA’s injury report updated at 6:30 PM UTC on November 14, 2025. Yet behind the scenes, something remarkable happened: he played a full 5-on-5 scrimmage without pain for the first time since his diagnosis.
First Full Practice in Weeks Signals Turning Point
On Wednesday, November 12, 2025, James stepped onto the court with the South Bay Lakers, the team’s G-League affiliate, and went full speed for the first time since his sciatica flared up in early November. The next day, he did it again. No lingering discomfort. No stiffness. No wincing. That’s the kind of progress that doesn’t show up on injury reports — but it’s the kind that makes coaches, teammates, and fans breathe easier.
ESPN’s senior NBA writer Dave McMenamin broke the news during the November 14 broadcast of ‘NBA Today.’ “He had no residual effects from Wednesday’s practice,” McMenamin said. “That was his first full-speed five-on-five since his sciatica diagnosis. He’s moving without any pain in his lower back or right side. If this continues, he could get a practice with the main team as early as next week.”
What Is Sciatica — and Why Is This Such a Big Deal?
Sciatica isn’t just a backache. It’s inflammation or compression of the sciatic nerve — the longest nerve in the body — running from the lower spine down through the buttock and into the leg. For an athlete like James, whose game relies on explosive drives, sudden stops, and high-impact landings, this injury is a nightmare. One wrong movement, one misstep in practice, and the pain can flare back with brutal intensity.
That’s why the fact he completed two consecutive high-intensity sessions without symptoms is so significant. Most players with sciatica need weeks — sometimes months — of controlled rehab. James, at 40, isn’t just fighting the injury. He’s fighting time. And so far, he’s winning.
Who’s Missing, Who’s Playing, and What It Means for the Lakers
While James sits, the Lakers are scrambling. Their offense, which thrives on his ability to create for others and finish at the rim, has lost its engine. Without him, their win-loss record has slipped, though exact numbers aren’t yet public. Meanwhile, teammate Adou Thiero is listed as ‘Probable’ for Friday’s game with a left knee issue tied to recent surgery — a minor contrast to James’ nerve-related setback.
The Pelicans, meanwhile, are coming off a strong home win over the Suns and are hungry to capitalize on the Lakers’ absence. But even they know: this game isn’t about who’s playing tonight. It’s about when LeBron returns.
Could He Play Against the Clippers on November 18?
The timeline is tightening. ESPN’s YouTube video title from November 14, 2025, teased: “LeBron could make HISTORY as soon as TUESDAY...” That Tuesday? November 18, 2025. The Lakers face the Los Angeles Clippers at Crypto.com Arena — a game that would mark his first return to the court since the injury.
Analysts Kendrick Perkins and Brian Windhorst spent the better part of their ‘NBA Today’ segment dissecting what happens when James comes back. “He’s not just coming back to play,” Windhorst said. “He’s coming back to carry this team into the playoffs. The Lakers don’t win without him — not really. But if he’s healthy, they’re still the West’s most dangerous team.”
Perkins added: “At 40, he’s not just defying age. He’s rewriting the rules. You don’t see guys this old come back from nerve pain this fast. He’s got a medical team that’s treating him like a Formula 1 car — every adjustment, every stretch, every ice bath is calibrated.”
What This Means for the NBA Season
James isn’t just a player. He’s a gravitational force in the NBA. When he’s out, ratings dip. Merchandise sales slow. Playoff projections shift. His absence has already altered how oddsmakers view the Lakers’ chances — they’ve gone from title favorites to long shots. But if he returns by mid-November, all that changes.
And he’s not alone in the injury jungle. Bradley Beal, Kawhi Leonard, and Damian Lillard are also sidelined — but none of them carry the same weight. James is the rare athlete whose presence alone elevates a team’s ceiling. The Lakers are a different franchise with him on the floor.
What’s Next? The Clock Is Ticking
James’ medical team — unnamed but clearly elite — is now weighing whether to clear him for limited practice with the main squad by Sunday, November 16. If he shows no setbacks, a return against the Clippers on the 18th is realistic. If he needs one more day? Then it’s the 20th against the Jazz.
What’s clear: this isn’t just about one game. It’s about whether a 40-year-old man can still be the best player on the court — and whether he can carry a team deep into the playoffs while doing it. The answer might come sooner than anyone expected.
Frequently Asked Questions
How serious is right sciatica for an NBA player like LeBron James?
Right sciatica involves nerve compression that causes radiating pain down the leg, making explosive movements — like driving to the basket or jumping — extremely painful. For a 40-year-old athlete who relies on athleticism over pure strength, this injury can derail a season. But James’ lack of pain in two consecutive full practices suggests the inflammation has subsided significantly, which is a strong positive sign.
Why is LeBron practicing with the G-League team instead of the main Lakers squad?
The G-League offers a controlled environment to test physical limits without the pressure of NBA game speed or media scrutiny. It allows James to ramp up intensity gradually, monitor his body’s response, and avoid setbacks. This is standard protocol for veteran players returning from nerve injuries — especially ones as high-profile as his.
What’s the likelihood LeBron returns by November 18 against the Clippers?
Based on current progress, the odds are strong — estimated at 70-75% by multiple NBA insiders. The Lakers have no back-to-back games that week, giving him room to ease back in. If he practices without pain on Sunday, he’ll likely be cleared for game action by Tuesday. His return would be a major boost for their playoff seeding.
Has any other player over 40 returned from sciatica this quickly?
No documented case exists of a player over 40 returning from sciatica to full game action in under six days. Even legends like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Dirk Nowitzki took weeks to recover from similar nerve issues. James’ recovery pace is unprecedented, suggesting his training regimen, nutrition, and recovery protocols are far beyond typical NBA standards.
How does this injury affect the Lakers’ playoff chances?
Without James, the Lakers are hovering around the 8th seed in the West — barely clinging to a playoff spot. Their offensive rating drops nearly 12 points per 100 possessions. If he returns healthy by mid-November, they’re back in contention for a top-4 seed. If he misses more than two weeks, their chances of advancing past the first round plummet.
What’s the long-term risk if James returns too soon?
Returning too early could trigger a recurrence, potentially sidelining him for the entire second half of the season. Sciatica can become chronic if not fully healed. The Lakers’ medical staff is being cautious — which is why they’re letting him progress through the G-League first. His longevity matters more than one game. They’re playing the long game.
