LeBron James’ glute injury has notably impacted the Los Angeles Lakers’ preseason. Initially, he was sidelined on September 30, 2025 due to a nerve irritation in his glute. That resulted in him missing the first two preseason games against the Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors. New reports indicated, he is expected to miss the remainder of the preseason. James was seen everywhere except the court; he appeared on famous Twitch streamer Kai Cenat’s podcast. Then went on to tease a second announcement, which many people thought would be about his potential retirement. It was all a domino effect afterwards.

However, the reveal turned out to be a ‘Hennessy’ partnership, not a career decision. “I feel like it’s going to give me the best opportunity to win more at hosting. Not only that. Win in signature cocktails, win in having a good time, win at having a good time, win at impressing guests, win at making memories,” he said in the advertisement. Fans were disappointed. But the question about his return remained unanswered. Until…

All focus went on Lakers head coach and James’ friend, JJ Redick to address the speculation. When asked about James’ return, he simply stated, “He is on his own timeline.” Underlining that even the coach is not aware of his return, whether or not he will be playing the regular season opener against the Golden State Warriors on October 21, still remains a mystery.

Redick has been James’ podcast partner on the ‘Mind The Game’ podcast, and if we go way back, they have been on rival teams. Then Redick became the coach for Lakers back in June 2024. So the coach-player dynamic is a fresh one. And it is clear from his answer that the decisions are still made by James. Under Redick, the Lakers have played differently while continuing with the same roster. With Redick as a coach, LeBron’s usage rate as a key player has dropped. One report claims it’s the lowest usage of his career (meaning he’s handling the ball and initiating offense less than ever before).

Coming back to the announcement debacle, when LeBron James teased “The Second Decision,” the internet already decided his farewell. Loyal fans rushed to secure tickets for what they believed could be their last chance to witness history. According to SeatGeek, ticket prices for the Lakers’ final regular-season game soared to nearly $900 per seat. The emotional investment quickly turned into frustration, as the tickets prices dropped after the reveal. But as the saying goes, “there’s no such thing as bad publicity”.

Redick, was in disbelief over the tout. “You guys are idiots,” Redick told reporters on Tuesday. “We all knew it was an ad, right? I’m sure I got some texts. … I think most people that text me are also aware that it was probably an ad. Nobody was freaking out.” He did know about a business announcement, but he is yet to confirm about LeBron’s return to the court.

Luka now the centerpiece of Lakers’ season

LeBron James will soon turn 41 in December. As the most senior player in the series, he has been no stranger to injury concerns. Last season was a stark reminder. He missed the 2024 All-Star Game for the first time in his career due to lingering foot and ankle issues. This cut short a streak that had lasted two decades. Across the 2023-24 season, he played just 48 games, averaging 24.3 points, 9.0 assists, and 7.7 rebounds per game for the Lakers. These are still productive numbers, but a clear signal that age and accumulated wear are affecting the league icon.

With James’ durability and frequency of play going down gradually, Luka Dončić has to step into the spotlight as the Lakers’ primary engine. However he has been sitting out the preseason to rest, following a long EuroBasket campaign. He had played preseason games in 2024, while being with the Mavericks. For now Lakers are playing the pre-season without their main guns. If he does play, Luka is expected to take on the bulk of scoring. His ability to carry the offense efficiently will largely determine the Lakers’ early-season trajectory.