The Los Angeles Lakers are getting reinforcements back in the lineup, with guard Gabe Vincent cleared to return after missing the past 11 games due to a left ankle sprain. Vincent, who had been sidelined since the opening week of the season, was officially upgraded to “available” on the NBA’s most recent injury report.
Vincent had been one of the Lakers’ bright spots in the preseason, scoring in double figures in all four games he played. But the momentum quickly stalled after he averaged just 3.7 points on 23.1% shooting across the first three regular-season games before opting for rest and therapy to recover.
His return gives the Lakers an important boost in backcourt depth behind Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, whose strong play has helped lift Los Angeles to a 10–4 start, one of the best records in the Western Conference.
LeBron James Still Listed as Questionable Despite Practicing
While Vincent is set to rejoin the rotation, the status of LeBron James remains less certain.
James, who has been sidelined with sciatica and has yet to appear in a game this season, was again listed as “questionable” for the Lakers’ matchup against the Utah Jazz.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, James is pushing hard to make his season debut, going through every part of his typical pregame routine on Tuesday.
“Sources tell me LeBron James is aiming and wants to make his season debut tonight against the Utah Jazz,” Charania reported on NBA Today. “He will go through his normal pregame routine — his nap, his on-court warmup — before a final determination is made.”
James practiced last week with the South Bay Lakers, Los Angeles’ G League affiliate, to ramp up conditioning. The 40-year-old is entering an unprecedented 23rd NBA season after averaging 24.4 points, 8.2 assists and 7.8 rebounds last year, earning another All-NBA Third Team selection.
He opened this season ranked No. 7 on ESPN’s Top 100 Players list.
Dončić Confident in LeBron’s Seamless Return
Throughout James’ absence, Dončić has taken the leadership reins with remarkable ease, and believes reintegrating James will not be an issue.
“I mean, LeBron’s played basketball for a long time,” Dončić said after the Lakers closed their five-game road trip with a 119–95 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.
“It’s his 23rd season… He knows everything about it. First of all, it’s defense. When we get stops, we can get anything.”
Lakers Expecting LeBron to Play Heavy Minutes When Ready
Despite James turning 41 in December, head coach JJ Redick has expressed confidence that the plan is to keep James around the 35-minute mark — similar to last season’s workload, according to Lakers reporters Jovan Buha.
The Lakers have fortified their wing and forward rotation with Rui Hachimura, Marcus Smart, Jake LaRavia, and a mix of Jarred Vanderbilt, Dalton Knecht, Bronny James, and Gabe Vincent available to complement James once he returns.
Redick believes this balance of veterans and youth will help him manage James’ minutes without sacrificing competitiveness.
LeBron James: ‘I Have Newborn Baby Lungs’
According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, conditioning remains James’ largest hurdle before returning.
“The biggest issue right now… he feels like he has newborn baby lungs and needs to get back to grown-man lungs,” McMenamin said on ESPN’s NBA Today.
James echoed that same sentiment.
“My lungs feel like a newborn baby… I’ve got to get my lungs back up to a grown man,” James said. He added that whether he plays against Utah “depends on how my body responds” when he wakes up on game day.
Lakers Await Final Decision
With Vincent back and James pushing for a return, the Lakers’ depth is finally stabilizing as they continue their early-season surge. A final decision on James’ availability is expected shortly before tipoff.
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