Veteran forward LeBron James has not played competitive basketball since April 30, 2025, when his Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated from the playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The 40-year-old returned to basketball activities only in the past week or so, first training with the G League’s South Bay Lakers and then with his Lakers teammates. As such, he’s still re-acclimating to the physical rigours of a sport he has played all his life.
According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, the “biggest issue” James is facing is getting his conditioning up to speed, which requires him to get his lungs back in top shape.
“The biggest issue right now that [LeBron James] shared with us is that he feels like he has newborn baby lungs and, he needs to get back to grown man lungs,” the Lakers beat writer told ESPN’s “NBA Today” on Monday.
LeBron James Working Through Issues
The four-time NBA champion addressed the media and detailed the challenges he is facing since returning to the basketball court.
“My lungs feel like a newborn baby … I got to get my lungs back up to a grown man,” he said, while noting that he could make his season debut against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday based on “how his body responds” once he wakes up in the morning.
LeBron James Missed Teammates
James, out for the first month of an NBA season for the first time in his 23-year career, admittedly misses not just playing basketball but the camaraderie of a locker room.
“I missed these guys,” he said, via McMenamin.
“Just seeing them go out there and working. I love the work, I love the process of working. I don’t miss the travel. I’m about to be 41 years old. I was happy to be at home on my couch after working out.”
The one thing James has not missed is the nonstop traveling that comes with an 82-game regular-season slate.
“I don’t miss the travel. I’m about to be 41 years old. I was happy sitting at home on my couch after working out,” James joked while addressing reporters on Monday.
“I don’t miss the travel, but I do miss the competition.”
James will join a red-hot Lakers team that owns a 10-4 record despite dealing with a plethora of injuries. The 40-year-old will officially become the first player in NBA history to play a 23rd season when he suits up for the Lakers this week.
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