LeBron James Injury Update
Potential Timeline for Season Debut
LeBron James’s return to action in his 23rd NBA season is approaching as he recovers from sciatica. The Lakers had initially targeted mid-November for his comeback, and recent reports indicate this timeline remains unchanged.
ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania shared on ESPN NBA Countdown that the Lakers staff still expect James to debut around mid-November, emphasizing the unique challenge as LeBron will turn 41 next month and is playing in his 23rd NBA season.
“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 uncharted 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 Team Performance Without LeBron
Despite James’s absence, the Lakers have started the season 6–2, largely thanks to the impressive performances of Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. Dončić is averaging 41.3 points per game over four games, while Reaves has scored 31.1 points per game in seven appearances.
Next Steps in Recovery
Charania noted that the crucial stage in James’s rehabilitation is to resume five-on-five live play. Currently, LeBron is not expected to travel with the team during their upcoming road games.
Summary
LeBron James’s mid-November return remains on schedule as he progresses in recovery, while the Lakers maintain a strong start led by Dončić and Reaves in his absence.