Why isn't LeBron James playing today? Lakers fans get return timeline in new update

LeBron James will not play against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday. The 40-year-old NBA scoring leader is still awaiting his debut for the 23rd season as he recovers from a lingering sciatica problem. Despite the delay, Lakers fans received encouraging news about his recovery progress.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Los Angeles Lakers remain confident that James will return to action around mid-November, following the same schedule reported three weeks earlier. Speaking on NBA Countdown, Charania said the Lakers are still:

“operating under the belief that James’s comeback is imminent,”

but he also cautioned that this is:

“uncharted territory for a player nearing 41 years old and entering an unprecedented 23rd NBA season.”

Lakers performance without LeBron

Despite James’s absence, the Lakers have started the season strongly with a 6–2 record. Luka Doncic has been outstanding, averaging 41.3 points in four games, while Austin Reaves has contributed 31.1 points per night over seven contests. New additions DeAndre Ayton, Marcus Smart, and Jake LaRavia have also played essential roles in maintaining team depth during James’s recovery.

Next steps in James's return

The next phase for James is to progress to full five-on-five contact practice. However, he is expected to miss the Lakers’ upcoming five-game road trip as he continues rehabilitation.

Author’s summary

LeBron James is nearing his return from sciatica, with the Lakers thriving in his absence and targeting a mid-November comeback.

Hindustan Times — 2025-11-06