The Los Angeles Lakers are attempting to climb the Western Conference standings, and they have a chance to do so after recently receiving some positive news. The Lakers started the season without one of their stars, and another stepped up in his absence.
Luka Dončić is leading the way for the Lakers, as he averages 34.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 8.9 assists. The former Dallas Mavericks’ star has done it all for Los Angeles, and now they will be even better as LeBron James is set to return.
How Was LeBron James Injured?
James missed the start of the season due to a sciatica injury. This leads to pain running down the nerves from the buttocks to the back of the legs. It first happened to him two years ago and has been a silent player in James’ deteriorating performance.
James also sprained a knee ligament during the Lakers’ first-round playoff loss to Minnesota in the 2024-25 spring, setting back his offseason training regimen by about two months.
“Not too long after that (in mid-June), I started to feel the (pain) in my hip and my back, things of that nature,” James said. “So everything kind of changed. My whole dynamic changed of how I was going to prepare for the season, but it’s all a blessing in disguise.”
He missed the Lakers’ first 14 games, and they have played well so far. They have won 10 games, and their most recent victory was against the Milwaukee Bucks. They beat the Bucks 119-95, and Dončić had a huge 41-point performance. The Lakers can keep that momentum going with James joining them.
Will James Make His Season Debut?
The Lakers are doing well this season, and James can take them to the next level. The 21-time All-Star helped the Lakers win a championship in 2020, and since then, they have been chasing another. Los Angeles is in a good spot, and James is ready to return.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that James has been upgraded to questionable for the Lakers’ matchup against the Utah Jazz. The star forward is motivated and will return at the perfect time.
Before James was upgraded to questionable, he was assigned to the South Bay Lakers. The star did not play for Los Angeles’ G League affiliate, but he participated in practice.
Lakers’ LeBron James has been upgraded to questionable for Tuesday’s home game against the Utah Jazz, an indication he hopes to make his season debut. James is motivated and eager to return to action, and said at practice Monday that he is monitoring his body around the clock.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 18, 2025
During that time, Bronny James, the son and teammate of the Lakers star, had a chance to showcase his talents. He was a starter in the Lakers’ game against the Bucks, recording a rebound and an assist.
The Lakers are one of the top teams in the West. They are fourth in the conference, and the only teams ahead of them are the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Denver Nuggets, and the Houston Rockets.
The addition of James will help the Lakers, and chances are, they will climb the standings. Then, with the way Dončić is playing, the duo of him and the four-time Most Valuable Player (MVP) will be hard to stop.
James remains one of the NBA’s biggest stars, and as he gets older, he and Dončić can add at least one more championship to his resume.
