LeBron James Expected to Miss All of Lakers' Preseason With Injury

Following a four-game preseason against the Warriors, Mavericks, Suns, and Kings, it’s likely LeBron will not be playing in any of these games. The focus now is absolutely clear: have him completely healthy for the team’s opening game of the regular season on October 21.
Head coach JJ Redick has already spoken at length about the focus on preservation versus dealing with the outcomes of preseason games. “We want LeBron to feel awesome when it matters the most,” Redick has said previously. This obviously fits the overall theme of Redick’s mindset for the team, which is to emphasize load management, injury prevention, and stars’ availability throughout the course of an 82-game regular season. With the LeBron James Injury situation, each day he is better and better, according to reports. He has begun ramping up his workload in practice and is doing some limited basketball, which has been reported through multiple reports. However, according to LeBron James Injury Update notes, he will likely not be participating in games until game time before opening night, which means Lakers fans will probably be waiting until LeBron faces the Warriors before they may see him in uniform on the court again.

LeBron’s Patience Over Preseason: Veteran Years

Those eager to see LeBron James return to the court will have a little longer to wait. The star of the Los Angeles Lakers is expected to sit out the rest of the preseason and still be resting from a glute nerve irritation sustained earlier this preseason, according to ESPN insider Shams Charania. The LeBron James Injury update comes just weeks before his long-awaited record 23rd NBA season begins.

With LeBron turning 41 in December, it is hardly a shock. For instance, at this point in his career, there is little value in preseason minutes compared to the long-term health of the superstar. The LeBron James Injury Update appears to be a cautious but wise decision, geared towards being prepared for competitive games and forsaking the preseason scrimmages.

When Will LeBron James Return?

At the moment, the timeline for LeBron James’ return is October 21, 2025, the Lakers’ regular season opener against the Golden State Warriors. There is a possible scenario where James appears for a few minutes in the Lakers’ final preseason game on October 17, but sources maintain that the team's priority is to preserve long-term health ahead of immediate readiness. LeBron is said to have increased loads of activity where he has been shooting light numbers and going through some controlled scrimmaging. Significant progress has been reported on the LeBron James Injury Update with no setbacks reported.

Concern Meets Confidence

Throughout the basketball community, fans are curious but understanding. Following LeBron’s teasing of the internet with his “Second Decision” video earlier this week, there were again headlines this time regarding his absence due to his health. Generally speaking, the outlook is good. Most fans are aware that LeBron is physically fit, experienced, and mentally sharp, which means we think he will shake any rust off by midseason. If the LeBron James Injury Update continues to be minor, we can expect thoughtful needs to ensure The King rules again.