LOS ANGELES LAKERS superstar LeBron James is expected to be sidelined until at least mid-November with an injury.

James, 40, is entering a record-setting 23rd NBA season, but he will be forced to wait to make history.
LeBron James in a yellow Lakers jersey holding a basketball.Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is expected to be sidelined until at least mid-NovemberCredit: AP
LeBron James at Los Angeles Lakers Media Day, smiling and holding a basketball.James did not take part in the Lakers’ pre-season after suffering sciaticaCredit: NBAE via Getty Images
LJ did not take part in Los Angeles’ pre-season after suffering sciatica.

The painful injury runs from the lower back into the leg and is typically caused by irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve or its roots.

And NBA insider Shams Charania reports King James will not be back for at least another month.

James’ rehab from that nerve injury will require “patience” from both the power forward and the Lakers.

Charania told ESPN: “I’m told that the Lakers and LeBron are looking at around mid-November as a realistic debut for him.

“So October 30th would be the earliest that the Lakers would be officially reevaluating LeBron James.

“But it is expected he will need at least a few weeks after that point.

“A source told me tonight that LeBron will be taking a patient approach with this rehab from nerve injury.

“So the ramp-up process for this will be a lot of basketball shape, [and] conditioning work.

“Because remember, as reported last week, LeBron James first suffered this nerve injury in late July [and] early August.

“He wasn’t able to have that normal LeBron James off-season that we’re accustomed to.

“And as superhuman as he has been throughout his NBA career, he’s turning 41 in December and he is in year 23.

“So that’s the timeline on LeBron James at some point in November, likely around that mid-November range.”

Lakers fans that are eagerly anticipating James’ return stormed social media after the news broke out.

Fans want LeBron back

One fan tweeted: “NO WAY MY KING IS MISSING THIS LONG.”

Another commented: “It’s the right thing to do unfortunately.”

A third wrote: “Take your time, King.”

This fan said: “It will be a long season for the Lakers.”

That one posted: “This is a shame. We don’t have many LeBron games left…”

And finally another Lakers fan tweeted: “Makes sense it’s a long season ahead.”