All indications show LeBron James is closer than ever before at making his historic 23rd season debut for the Los Angeles Lakers.
After a long recovery process, James most recently participated in his first practice with the team of the year, and according to head coach JJ Redick, he isn’t yet ruled out for the Lakers’ next game against the Utah Jazz.
“JJ Redick says it’s “TBD” whether LeBron James plays tomorrow vs. UTA,” team insider Dave McMenamin wrote in a post on X.
“We’ve been taking it literally one minute, one hour, one step at a time throughout this whole process,” James said about his own return, according to McMenamin. “So, see how I feel this afternoon, see how I feel tonight. When I wake up in the morning, we’ll probably have shootaround. So, just got to see how the body responds over the next 24 hours-plus.”
James is officially listed as day-to-day on the Lakers’ injury report, but Redick’s update marks the first time all season the NBA’s all-time leading scorer hasn’t been ruled as ‘out‘ before a game. He was originally expected to make a return around mid-to-late November, and if he does end up suiting up over the next few days, that would fit with the original timeline.
LeBron James Returned To Lakers Practice
Over the past few days, James had been sent down to the Lakers’ G-League affiliate to practice with them in what was his ramp-up for a return from sciatica. After those two days went swimmingly, he was then elevated back to rejoin the Lakers’ practice.
All reports from Monday’s practice showed James has progressed well, and though he is still not listed as active, Redick said it was the first time all season he’s had every player on the roster on the court at the same time.
But for James, he said the return wasn’t as easy as he had originally expected. After not participating in any of the Lakers’ training camp or preseason action, it was his first time on the court this season with Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Deandre Ayton, and the rest of the team.
“My lungs feel like a newborn baby … I got to get my lungs back up to a grown man,” James said after Monday’s practice. “My voice is already gone. One day back, barking out calls and assignments and stuff, getting my voice working again. It feels good to be back out here with the guys. Missed them.”
LeBron Makes Surprise Statement
About to enter his record-breaking 23rd NBA season, the rust for James isn’t unexpected. However, speaking after practice, the star said this latest battle wasn’t his first time struggling with sciatica.
“I had it two years ago,” the star claimed, saying his first bout with sciatica came in the 2023 offseason. “If you’ve had it, you know. If you ain’t ever had it, people making jokes about it, I pray you never get it.”
The injury causes nerve pain, which is often serious, and in James’ case, it was affecting the left side of his lower body. Throughout his recovery, James has remained relatively silent, as the announcement that this wasn’t his first time battling the condition caught reporters off guard.
Regardless, the Lakers have a patient approach with his recovery, meaning he likely won’t be cleared until the team decides he is no longer at risk for further injury.
His status is still uncertain, but Los Angeles’ next two games are against the Jazz, followed by a four-game home stand that could be his best chance at a return. While fans still wait for his debut, James appears closer to starting his historic 23rd season than at any other point over the past few months.
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