LeBron James was dealt an injury blow just one day after his historic scoring streak came to an end, with the 40-year-old set to miss the Los Angeles Lakers’ clash against the Boston Celtics
17:01 ET, 05 Dec 2025
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn moreLeBron James will miss the Lakers’ game against the Boston Celtics just after the Los Angeles star broke his long-running streak(Image: Photo by Andrew Lahodynskyj/Getty Images)
LeBron James will miss the Los Angeles Lakers’ marquee matchup with the Boston Celtics with a bevy of injuries.
The 40-year-old is still working his way back from sciatica, which caused him to miss the entire preseason and a handful of weeks’ worth of Lakers games. And when he was on the court, James looked like a shell of himself, averaging just 14.0 points, 7.8 assists, and 4.3 rebounds in the games he’s played in the 2025-26 NBA season.
And one night after his impressive streak of scoring 10 or more points per game was snapped at 1,297 straight, James is set to miss another game with yet another injury.
On Friday, the Lakers initially announced that James was doubtful with right sciatica and left foot joint arthritis. Later that day, the team confirmed that the star will indeed sit out the game to manage the aforementioned injuries, just hours after his streak came to an end.
For James, missing the Lakers’ latest matchup against the Celtics with a number of injuries seemingly is the culmination of over two decades’ worth of basketball action finally catching up to the star. The 40-year-old’s longevity is what has allowed him to accrue accolades and stake his claim as arguably the greatest player of all time.
Of note, only 24 players in NBA history, including James, have played more than 1,297 regular-season games in their careers. Currently, James (1,568) is second on the list behind Celtics great Robert Parish, who played in 1,611 games.
James celebrated despite his streak coming to an end(Image: Getty)
And while James’ regular season record might remain untouched, the star admitted to reporters that he couldn’t care less about the streak snapping. With the game on the line against the Toronto Raptors, James, who had been stuck at eight points and a chance to win the game, opted to pass the ball to teammate Rui Hachimura.
Hachimura drained the game-winner, the first of his career, and Los Angeles left Toronto with the win. Debriefing with reporters in the locker room, the NBA legend explained what was going through his mind, now that the streak had come to an end.
“Being an all-time leading scorer was never a goal,” he revealed after the game.
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“Never. I never had a goal of that. I wanted to lead the league in assists, multiple All-Stars and winning MVP and things like that. Starting a streak since ’07, no one says that. Beginning in 2007, I wasn’t like, ‘I’m about to start this double-digit streak.’ I just go out and play, and the game has given back to me, and it happened.
“And if it had to end, that’s the perfect way for me: Making the right play.”
For now, it remains to be seen how long James will be sidelined with sciatica and left foot joint arthritis, as he and the Lakers ponder ways to integrate the star back into the fold.
But it is clear that at this stage of his career, James is enjoying the ride he is on, injuries notwithstanding.
