LeBron James Prepares for Contact Basketball with Lakers
LeBron James is set to resume contact basketball activity as part of his recovery while aiming to start his 23rd NBA season with the Los Angeles Lakers. He will undergo re-evaluation by the Lakers' team physician within one to two weeks.
Current Status and Recovery
James has not yet participated in games or practice sessions this season due to a sciatica-related lower-body nerve issue that sidelined him early in training camp. The next phase in his rehabilitation involves engaging in five-on-five drills during practice.
The timing for this step remains uncertain, especially since the Lakers begin a five-game road trip on Saturday starting in Atlanta, where James is not expected to travel with the team.
Individual Workouts and Timeline
The 40-year-old athlete has been training individually over recent weeks. The Lakers announced his move towards contact basketball exactly four weeks after initially planning a re-evaluation in three to four weeks.
“We don’t have a target date,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said last week regarding James’ progress. “It’s just somewhere in that general timeline. We hope that he’s kind of checked all the boxes and is going to be back sometime in that second or third week in November.”
Summary
LeBron James is advancing steadily in his recovery, with re-evaluations planned soon and hopes to return to full team activity within November.
Author's summary: LeBron James is progressing toward full basketball contact and possible return to Lakers' play in November, following a cautious recovery from sciatica.