LeBron James’ comeback is still a few weeks away. Speaking on NBA Today, NBA insider Shams Charania reported that the Lakers are targeting mid-November as a realistic debut date for the 40-year-old star, who continues to recover from a lingering nerve injury on his right side.
“I’m told that the Lakers and LeBron are looking at around mid-November as a realistic debut for him,” Charania said. “So, October 30th would be the earliest that the Lakers would be officially re-evaluating LeBron James. But it is expected that he will need a few weeks after that point. A source told me tonight that LeBron will be taking a patient approach with this rehab from the nerve injury. So the ramp-up process for this will be a lot of conditioning work because LeBron James first suffered this during July and he wasn’t able to have that normal offseason he’s accustomed to.”
LeBron has never missed an opening night game, but the streak will end this season as he continues his battle with sciatica. While he initially suffered the injury in July, he’s set to miss the next three to four weeks to fully recover. For now, details on the injury are vague, but the condition is known to be painful and one NBA source said it could keep James out until December.
At the very least, we know the Lakers are taking the cautious approach with LeBron. At 40 years old, heading into his 23rd season, his body cannot hold up like it used to and the fact that LeBron couldn’t go through his usual offseason routine does not bode well for his durability going forward. Still, the Lakers will happily rest him now if it means he’s fresh and healthy for the playoffs.
With averages of 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game last season, LeBron proved he can still be effective after two decades of playing time and his presence will make a huge difference in April, May, and June. In the meantime, Luka Doncic can carry the Lakers as far as they need to go. As the new face of the franchise, everything pivots around him and they should be capable of holding it down without James.
So while Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves clearly want to keep playing with the King, they are no longer at the point of leaning on his leadership to succeed. In truth, these opening weeks will be a big test for the Lakers in determining how they play without him. If they show they can be competitive, it will only encourage James’ patient approach and it could set him up for an overall healthier season. If they crumble, however, LeBron may have to risk his own health to save his team’s season.
In the end, LeBron James’ recovery is testing both his patience and the Lakers’ discipline, but it’s the right move for the long haul. The team knows they can’t afford to gamble with his health at this stage of his career, especially with a nerve issue that has already lingered for months. By resting now, the Lakers are betting on LeBron being fully ready for the stretch that matters most, the playoffs. Whether they can survive his absence will depend on how Luka Doncic and the rest of the roster respond to the early adversity, but one thing is clear: when LeBron does return, he will be expected to make an immediate impact.
