Lakers Win Less Than 42% of Games When LeBron Sits Out

October 10 — According to renowned NBA insider 5JL, LeBron James — widely regarded as the greatest player in league history — will miss at least three to four weeks because of right-side sciatica. The injury setback comes after a challenging offseason; James had already dealt with knee issues following an awkward fall in last season’s playoff finale against Donte DiVincenzo, which sidelined him for over a month.

Earlier this offseason, LeBron mentioned in an interview that he planned to ease into the season and allow teammates like Luka Dončić to take more control of the offense — signaling a shift toward more off-ball play. Unfortunately, that plan was derailed when he suffered this new injury right before opening night. The setback not only rules him out of the season opener, but could also keep him out for up to a month.

This marks a rare moment in history — LeBron will miss an NBA opening game for the first time in his 23-year career. Since his rookie season, he had played in every single season opener, underscoring both his durability and his role as one of the league’s most consistent stars. Beyond that, LeBron has been nearly synonymous with marquee events like Christmas Day games and All-Star appearances, featuring in them almost every year of his two-decade career.

Even at 40 years old, LeBron remains the heart of the Lakers. His on-court impact is staggering:

• With LeBron playing, the Lakers are 248–171 — a 59.1% winning rate.

• Without him, they fall to 56–78, barely above 41.8%.

Last season, when LeBron played without Dončić or Anthony Davis, the Lakers went 7–1, winning almost 90% of those games. During that stretch, he averaged over 30 points with near triple-double numbers — a key reason he earned an All-NBA Second Team selection and remained considered a top-four player in the league.

LeBron’s absence will undoubtedly test the Lakers’ depth and leadership. While the team has young talent and star power, replacing the presence and production of a player entering his 23rd NBA season — and still performing at an elite level — will be nearly impossible.