LeBron James return date from injury leaves question open of when Lakers star is coming back

LeBron James continues to spend the start of the NBA season on the sideline.

The Los Angeles Lakers' superstar has yet to play in the new campaign, and that remains true as he misses Friday night against the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Lakers did get good news Friday as far as injuries are concerned. Luka Doncic and Marcus Smart were both upgraded to probable and are expected to make their returns.

That means L.A. is a lot less shorthanded than it has been, but they're still without the King.

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When is LeBron James coming back?

James' comeback date remains likely a week or two away, based on original timeline expectations.

James is dealing with sciatica on the right side of his body, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.

Sciatica causes pain and weakness in the lower back and leg. It's not something James has been documented as having dealt with before.

When James was diagnosed with the sciatica, he was expected to be out for three to four weeks. The Lakers would hope to have him back in early November.

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ESPN's Dave McMenamin provided an update on NBA Today on Monday.

"I'm told that we're still in the range of about three more weeks before he would be targeting a return sometime in mid-November," McMenamin said on the ESPN show. "I have been told by multiple sources over the last several days that his rehab and all of the process to get back to that return date is moving in the right direction, so there is good vibes around it."

The Lakers will likely exhibit at least some caution with James, considering he's 40 going on 41 in December. They'd rather have him healthy at the end of the season than now.

For now, James will just keep on watching.

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