76ers rule LeBron James out against Bucks with back pain
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The gist
The 76ers said LeBron James will miss the Bucks game to manage low back pain and sciatica.
Philadelphia is 2-0 but managing the 41-year-old's back in its first back-to-back.
Background
LeBron James, 41, is the NBA's oldest player and now a 76ers forward, averaging 15.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 6.0 assists over Philadelphia's first two games. The 76ers are 2-0 after a 29-point comeback win over Cleveland, while Milwaukee is 0-2 and described as a rebuild-mode team after trading away franchise icon Giannis Antetokounmpo. Philadelphia says it is managing both James and Joel Embiid through back-to-backs, and James missed the opening 14 games of last season with sciatica.
How it unfolded
- Oct 22, 2026LeBron James had 17 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals in 33 minutes as the 76ers erased a 29-point deficit to beat Cleveland 116-104.
- Oct 23, 2026The 76ers listed James as questionable for the Bucks game due to back management.
- Oct 24, 2026Philadelphia announced James would sit out against Milwaukee to manage low back pain and sciatica, the first game of a back-to-back.
- Oct 25, 2026The 76ers are next scheduled to host the Pistons, the second game of the back-to-back.
Who’s saying what
- Analysts
- A Fox Sports 1070 computer model predicts a 76ers 120-109 win, picking Philadelphia on the moneyline and the Under, but taking the Bucks against the spread at +12.5.
- Analysts
- Covers' top pick is Bucks +12.5, citing Milwaukee's 113.1 points per 100 possessions (13th) against Philadelphia's 103.8 (23rd) despite the 76ers' 2-0 start, and calls an outright Bucks win too much to believe.
- Official
- The 76ers said James is out to manage low back pain and sciatica, with the team managing him and Embiid through back-to-backs.
Still unverified
James was listed as questionable before the team announced he would sit; ESPN reported he has not publicly said he has had any injury flare-ups this season and that the designation appears to be managing a past injury. Dean Wade (left ankle sprain, yet to make his 76ers debut) is listed as questionable. One source lists no Bucks injuries while another says the report was not yet submitted, and odds differ by source: spread 76ers -12.5 with moneyline -621 or -588, and totals of 230.5, 234.5 or 236.5.