The Los Angeles Lakers host the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Crypto.com Arena, searching for their first victory of the NBA regular season after losing in the season opener against the Golden State Warriors. For this game, JJ Redick will not be able to count on LeBron James, a significant loss for the team.
LeBron James will not be available for the game against the Timberwolves, as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer is suffering from sciatica on his right side. According to reports, he is expected to be out for around three to four weeks, with a possible return in mid-November.
Shams Charania of ESPN provided the information regarding James’ status on October 9th, so it was known that he would miss the start of the regular season with the Lakers. This means Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are the ones who must take charge of leading the team to victory.
During the first game, both players had incredible performances but they were not enough to secure the win. Doncic finished with a stellar 43 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists, while Reaves added 26 points, five rebounds, and six assists, being the only players along with Deandre Ayton (10 points) to reach double digits in scoring.
LeBron James about to achieve another record
At the age of 40, James stands on the precipice of seizing yet another monumental achievement: commencing his 23rd season in the NBA. This feat would instantly cement his legacy as the league’s all-time iron man, outright shattering the tie he currently shares with Vince Carter, who logged 22 seasons. However, the Lakers star will have to wait a few more weeks before officially adding that record to his storied career.
Reports indicate LeBron is expected to be sidelined for approximately three to four weeks, which forecasts his long-awaited triumphant return around the middle of November. Nevertheless, the four-time champion will undergo a formal re-evaluation at that time, meaning his highly anticipated comeback could face further postponements.