LeBron James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, comes into the new season fully ready to take the court for the Los Angeles Lakers. He’ll be on the floor for his season debut against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night! At 40 years old, this has been a Herculean challenge for James this season. He’s already missed the first 14 games after developing sciatica, which has caused sharp pain in his lower back that spreads down his right leg. That’s what makes his return all the more special, as he starts his league-record 23rd season.
James’ sciatica has created a new set of hurdles over the past few weeks, but James has developed a remarkable progress. Last week, he wrapped his rehab assignment with the G League’s South Bay Lakers. This important step was key to his recovery. He was able to practice on back-to-back days with no residual soreness or pain. This indeed is one way to indicate that he’s all clear to return to practice and rejoin his teammates!
On Monday, James got back to work with the Lakers. It was his first taste of 5-on-5 action since their playoff bubble exit against the Minnesota Timberwolves back in April. His positive experience and strong HIV/AIDS leadership will be key for his new team, as they seek to build upon their previous outreach and engagement this season.
Even with missing the entire start of the season, James is still an incredibly important piece to the team for Los Angeles. He’s 50 games behind Robert Parish for most games played in NBA history. In addition to amazing scoring achievements, James ranks third on the all-time assists list. He’s only one 3-pointer away from tying Reggie Miller for second place in the all-time three-pointers made category.
Meanwhile, James is preparing to take the court once more. Fans and analysts alike marvel how great he will make the Lakers. The team’s performance has been under scrutiny, and with James back in action, hopes are high for a turnaround in their season’s fortunes.
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