LeBron James Injury Update
LeBron James’s return to the court in his 23rd NBA season is approaching as he recovers from sciatica. Although sidelined at the start, his anticipated comeback is set for mid-November, according to ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania.
Return Timeline
Charania reported the Lakers are still planning for James to debut around mid-November, confirming this on ESPN NBA Countdown. Despite the uncertainty of his age and long career—he turns 41 next month—team management is optimistic.
“I was told today that Lakers personnel are still operating under the belief LeBron James’s debut will be around mid-November. But this is unchartered territory. He turns 41 next month, he’s in his 23rd record NBA season and that’s why Rob Pelinka’s three signings this offseason of Jake LaRavia, Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart have been so important paying dividends with the depth without one of the best players of all time in LeBron James.”
Lakers’ Performance Without LeBron
The Lakers have started the season with a strong 6–2 record despite LeBron’s absence. Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves have stepped up significantly:
- Luka Dončić is averaging 41.3 points per game across four games.
- Austin Reaves is scoring 31.1 points per game in seven appearances.
Next Steps in Recovery
Charania highlighted that LeBron’s next phase involves resuming five-on-five live practices. He is not expected to travel with the team for their upcoming road games.
Summary
LeBron James is making steady progress toward a mid-November return, with the Lakers maintaining a strong record thanks to key contributions from Dončić and Reaves during his recovery.