LeBron James is reportedly “aiming” to return to the court on Tuesday night against the Utah Jazz, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, and is “motivated and eager to join a surging Los Angeles Lakers team as he prepares to embark on his 23rd NBA season.
Charania reported that James returned to the Lakers after completing multiple days of practices with their G League affiliate in South Bay.
James was sidelined for the first 14 games of the season after developing sciatica early in training camp. Without him, the Lakers got off to a hot start with a 10-4 record.
Los Angeles has been led by star guard Luka Dončić, who leads the league with 34.4 points per game while adding 8.9 assists and 8.9 rebounds per contest. Shooting guard Austin Reaves has continued his ascent to becoming a strong No. 2 option and is averaging 28.3 points per game.
Adding James to the mix will certainly help the Lakers become one of the top contenders in the competitive Western Conference. The 40-year-old played 70 games in 2024-25 and averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists. When he takes the floor for his 23rd season, he will set a new NBA record for most seasons played.
The Lakers will certainly be excited to get James back, but they won’t rush his recovery while Dončić and Reaves continue to play at a high level to lead the way in his absence.
