The 2025-26 NBA season is 11 games in, and for the Los Angeles Lakers, the story has been one of unexpected success. JJ Redick’s squad is playing far better than anticipated, especially considering the difficult circumstances. Injuries have been a major concern early in the season, with stars Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and LeBron James all missing time.
Fortunately for Los Angeles, Doncic and Reaves appear to be healthy and back to form after sitting out a few games. James, however, remains on the mend, as a sciatica injury has kept him from playing a single game this season. But the four-time NBA MVP seems to be nearing his return, and he is taking an unusual step by working with the South Bay Lakers, the team’s G League affiliate, to get ready.
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In an interesting twist, James was officially assigned to South Bay on Wednesday to begin his on-court work and start practicing in five-on-five situations, according to Shams Charania of ESPN. The move allows him to get crucial practice time as he prepares to rejoin the team.
Lakers’ LeBron James was assigned to the franchise’s NBA G League affiliate, South Bay, today and will participate in his first full practice of the season, including 5-on-5 play, as he works toward a debut.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 12, 2025
With James now participating in full five-on-five practices, even at the G League level, it is a strong indicator that the superstar forward will likely return to the floor to make his season debut sooner rather than later. He has already been ruled out for the remainder of the current five-game road trip, which has three games left on the schedule, starting with the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night.
The most likely scenario for James to make his debut is when the Lakers return to Crypto.com Arena on Nov. 18 to host the Utah Jazz. That timeline gives him ample time to ramp up his on-court work and feel comfortable enough to play his first regular-season game of the 2025-26 campaign.
While James recovers, the Lakers have been busy holding their own against tough competition. The team will face the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on Friday, followed by a matchup against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on Saturday.
The Lakers are coming off a bounce-back win against the Charlotte Hornets on Monday, where Doncic led the team to a 10-point victory. As a result of that win, Los Angeles improved its record to 8-3 on the season. This currently puts them in fourth place in the Western Conference standings behind the Denver Nuggets (8-2), San Antonio Spurs (8-2), and the Thunder (11-1).
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Their next game in Oklahoma City will be a tough challenge for Doncic and company, as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s squad has lost only one game this season. That single loss for the Thunder came against the Portland Trail Blazers on Nov. 5.
Coincidentally, the Lakers also lost to the Trail Blazers earlier in the season. Still, they were able to get some revenge in a subsequent game, pulling out an eight-point win on Nov. 3. That victory showcased the team’s depth, as Rui Hachimura (28 points) and Deandre Ayton (29 points, 10 rebounds) had inspired performances while Doncic and Reaves were on the mend.
