Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James took part in his first full team practice of the season on Monday, a key step in his recovery from sciatica as he targets a possible debut Tuesday night against the Utah Jazz at Crypto.com Arena.
“Yeah, it feels good. It feels good to be out here with the guys. Missed it,” James said after the workout.
The 20-time All-Star was cleared for on-court work earlier this month and logged multiple sessions with the G League’s South Bay Lakers while the NBA roster completed a five-game road trip. Los Angeles went 3–2 on that swing, improving to 3–2 overall.
Return timetable still uncertain
James, 40, said his status for the Jazz matchup remains “to be determined.” He and the medical staff will monitor how his back responds “minute by minute, hour by hour” before a final decision is made on game day.
“We’ve been taking literally one minute, one hour, one step at a time throughout this whole process,” he explained. “We’ll see how the body responds over the next 24-plus hours.”
First season ever opened on the sideline
The four-time MVP acknowledged the frustration of missing opening night for the first time in his 22 previous NBA campaigns. “Never in my life since I started playing the game of basketball have I ever not started the season,” he said. “It’s been a mind test, but I’m built for it.”
Managing lingering pain
Though James completed practice, he cautioned that he is not entirely pain-free. “If you’ve ever had [sciatica], you hope when you step down from the bed that you don’t feel it,” he noted. Daily mobility and strengthening exercises remain part of his routine.
Summer 2023 flare-up
James revealed he first experienced the nerve issue during the summer of 2023 and has relied on “repetition, repetition, repetition” in rehab to regain comfort and mobility.
Voice almost gone after practice
The veteran forward joked that he “almost lost [his] voice” from calling out defensive assignments in his first full workout. “My lungs feel like a newborn baby,” he said with a laugh, adding he planned to drink “a lot of tea and rest” overnight.
Los Angeles has leaned on Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves during James’ absence, but the club expects to integrate the NBA’s all-time leading scorer carefully once he is cleared for action as he begins what would be a record-breaking 23rd season.
Source: Lakers Nation
