Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick said Friday that the club is aiming to have LeBron James back on the court during the second or third week of November.
“We’re probably somewhere right around that timeline to hopefully get him back in the lineup,” Redick told reporters before the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. “We don’t have a target date; it’s just somewhere in that general timeline. We hope he’s checked all the boxes and is going to be back sometime in that second or third week in November.”
James, sidelined by sciatica on his right side, first felt discomfort during an offseason workout and has missed training camp, the preseason and the opening stretch of the 2025-26 campaign. The 23-year veteran’s rehabilitation is progressing, and previous updates also pointed to a mid-November return.
The Lakers improved to 3-2 after edging Minnesota, but tougher opponents loom. Luka Doncic is expected to rejoin the lineup within the next week, which would leave James as the final piece needed for Los Angeles to reach full strength.
With both stars out, Austin Reaves has handled primary scoring and playmaking duties. The Lakers have shown defensive growth, yet their offense is expected to take a significant step forward once James, Doncic and Reaves share the floor.
While recovering, James said he plans to keep up with the league through NBA League Pass, specifically mentioning Victor Wembanyama, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic, as well as the Portland Trail Blazers and Utah Jazz.
Source: LakersNation.com
