LeBron James will be absent for the Los Angeles Lakers’ season opener on October 21 due to a diagnosis of sciatica on his right side, according to a report from The Athletic published on Thursday.

James is expected to be reassessed in 3-4 weeks. He has yet to engage in a full practice since the onset of the Lakers’ training camp more than a week ago.

Coach JJ Redick is addressing the implications of losing the 40-year-old star from the lineup with practicality. “He’s on his own timeline,” Redick noted.

The iconic player entered his unrivaled 23rd NBA season last week while dealing with a lower-body nerve issue that has kept him sidelined. The Lakers’ sixth practice occurred without the top scorer in NBA history, who also missed their first two preseason contests while rehabbing.

Redick expressed the situation with resignation. “You’ve got to play the cards you’re dealt; that’s a shame but it’s the reality… This has limited everyone’s time with LeBron, especially for new center Deandre Ayton.”

Last week, Redick and team members were optimistic about having James and Luka Doncic participate fully after Doncic’s mid-season trade to Los Angeles didn’t provide him much practice time. However, they are focusing on establishing their offensive strategies without James’s presence.

Though neither superstar played in the Lakers’ initial preseason outings, they are set to return against the Golden State Warriors on Sunday. Doncic has contributed to practice sessions but Ayton expressed his eagerness for more collaboration with the Lakers’ two premier athletes.

James traveled with the team for preseason events in Palm Desert, California, and San Francisco but primarily conducted individual drills. Recently, he stirred speculation among fans by hinting at “The Second Decision” on his social media, which turned out to be an advertisement for a cognac brand. James has stated he is uncertain about retirement plans after this season, indicating that the conclusion of his lengthy NBA career will happen “sooner than later.”

Despite hopes expressed by Redick for James and Doncic to play in a preseason game to serve as a trial run for the regular season, James has now been officially ruled out. Nonetheless, Redick remains hopeful that Doncic will participate in at least one preseason game as the Lakers have four more games remaining, with two in Los Angeles.