When LeBron James practiced with the Los Angeles Lakers for the first time this season on Monday, he took a step closer to becoming the first player in NBA history to play in the league for more than 22 seasons.
James fought sciatica, an injury that was medically documented but which his detractors questioned and even made fun of. As a result, he had not taken part in any of the team’s basketball workouts. In the post-practice interviews, it was, of course, one of the first questions Bron was asked by the media.
James questioned reporters:
“You ever had it?” “Anybody ever have it? I’ve had it two years ago. If you had it, you know what the hell it is about. If you ain’t never had it, and people are making jokes about it, I pray you never get it. It’s not fun.”
Sciatica “refers to pain that travels along the path of the sciatic nerve,” according to the Mayo Clinic website. The sciatic nerve runs down each leg from the buttocks. The injury typically results from “a herniated disk or an overgrown bone spur puts pressure on the lumbar spine nerve roots,” which causes leg discomfort, inflammation, and occasionally numbness.
Even though James’ diagnosis was verified by team physicians, many detractors and even a few NBA talking heads did not believe LeBron and the Lakers.
