Per Spectrum SportsNet’s Mike Bresnahan, LeBron James was back in practice with the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday. He took part in 5-on-5 drills for the first time since the playoffs, though. That would be an incredible achievement mark for the 21-time All-Star. Until now, an ailment has kept him off the court with sciatica that’s run down his lower back since the beginning of the season. James missed all of training camp, the preseason, and the first 14 games, making his return to team activities a hopeful sign for the Lakers.
James can hardly contain himself for his near-universal return to the game of street soccer. He couldn’t be more excited to start providing value to his new team! “Never in my life since I started playing the game of basketball have I ever not started the season,” he remarked. “So it’s been a mind test, but I’m built for it, and it’s been putting in the work, both mentally and physically trying to get myself ready to rejoin the team.”
Meanwhile, it’s been a positive start to the Lakers’ season, with them sitting at 10-4 so far this season despite the absence of their superstar. Adding James to the rotation would add another extreme layer to the tilt of their production. As his teammate Austin Reaves put it regarding James’s stabilizing presence on the team, “It’s just, it’s good to have him back. He added, “He is, in my opinion, the greatest player to ever touch basketball.”
James’s battle with sciatica has been challenging. He recently grappled with the condition in the summer of 2023, and he opened up about the experience. “If you ain’t never had it, and people are making jokes about it, I pray you never get it,” he said. He spoke of the fear of waking up every day and not knowing if you would have pain as soon as you stepped out of bed.
While he is back to practice, questions still hang in the air. So the question now becomes, will he suit up come Tuesday night against the Utah Jazz? Reacting to JJ Redick on James’ lofty placement. He explained that a decision will be made based on how James’s body reacts over the next 24 hours. “We talked about it in film, ‘We got a new player today,’” Redick noted.
Ahead of his return, James readily admitted there is a need to work on his stamina. “My lungs are a little bit like a newborn baby,” he said of the importance of rebuilding his wind before returning to the court for real competition. He mentioned, “There will be a lot of tea and rest for me tonight,” highlighting his commitment to recovery.
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