LeBron James returned to practicing with the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday. This marks his first workout with the team since this past summer. The star had been sidelined with sciatica, causing him to miss the team’s first 14 games.
Now that he’s cleared for basketball activities, James has addressed how he plans to integrate into the Lakers’ system.
LeBron James is Willing to Adjust and Provide Whatever the Lakers Need
The Lakers have been on a roll in the early part of the 2025-26 season. Despite not having James by their side, Los Angeles has a 10-4 record and is sitting in third place in the Western Conference.
Through the team’s first 14 games, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves have been carrying the load. As expected, Dončić has been the main star, averaging 34.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, 8.9 assists, and 1.7 steals per game.
With another star absent, Reaves has stepped up and shone bright in James’s absence. Looking at Reaves’ numbers, he is averaging 28.3 points, 8.2 assists, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game — All-Star-caliber numbers by today’s standards.
Where does James fit into this new Lakers dynamic? While he’s known as an all-around talent, he’s also a ball-dominant player, which could alter the system his teammates have established. However, James promised his team that he’ll be ready for anything the Lakers ask him to do this season.
“It don’t matter,” James said about how he’ll fit into the Lakers this season. “I’m a ball player. The best thing about me … I’ve never had a position. There’s not one team, one club, in the world that I can’t fit in and play for. I can do everything on the floor. So whatever this team needs me to do, I can do it.”
LeBron on what he expects his role to be this season with the Lakers:
“Don’t matter… I’ve never had a position… There’s not one team, one club, in the world that I can’t fit in and play for. I can do everything on the floor.” 🗣️
(via @jovanbuha) pic.twitter.com/HKpH9xYUOG
— Witness King James (@WITNESSKJ) November 17, 2025
According to several reports, there are three possible dates when James could make his 2025-26 season debut. The earliest possible date is Tuesday, when the Lakers face the Utah Jazz. Depending on how James’ body responds, his return game could be delayed until Sunday, also against the Jazz, or next Tuesday when the Lakers face the Los Angeles Clippers in an NBA Cup matchup.
