LeBron to Miss Lakers' Season Opener; Bronny Day-to-Day

The NBA 2025-26 season opens Tuesday, Oct. 21, with the Golden State Warriors at the Los Angeles Lakers, tip-off at 7 p.m. PT/10 p.m. ET from Crypto.com Arena, televised on NBC and streaming on Peacock. LeBron James will miss the opener while recovering from right‑side sciatica and is targeting a mid‑November return; Bronny James is day‑to‑day with an ankle sprain after a disrupted preseason (L.A. went 1–4). With LeBron sidelined, the Lakers will lean on Luka Dončić, Deandre Ayton and backcourt pieces Gabe Vincent and Austin Reaves to carry the early load. Golden State appears comparatively healthier overall but lists Jimmy Butler and Jonathan Kuminga as questionable/probable and has depth players Moses Moody, De'Anthony Melton and Alex Toohey out or day‑to‑day. Coaches have already tinkered with lineups for opening night, making the game a high‑profile early test of both teams’ identities despite notable absences.