The Los Angeles Lakers have started the 2025-2026 NBA season strongly. However, LeBron James’ continued absence from the lineup is a cause for concern, with fans wondering when the league’s all-time leading scorer will make his season debut.
After being eliminated in the first round of the 2024-2025 Western Conference playoffs, James had a long offseason and was expected to start the current season healthy.
Unfortunately, he sustained a sciatic nerve injury during the offseason, keeping him out of action as all the teams across the league began their push into the season.
Although the Lakers have been doing fine without the four-time NBA champion and currently hold a 7-2 record, many are still eager to know when he will return and his current status.
Is LeBron James Ready To Return to the Los Angeles Lakers?
Given that a sciatic injury in the lower back is a tedious issue and has no real treatment, one can understand why this issue has sidelined him for several weeks. James will turn 41 years old next month and is the oldest active player in the league. Thus, his slower recovery process is certainly understandable.
According to senior NBA Insider Shams Charania, James has been cleared to return for contact basketball activities. The next immediate step in his rehabilitation and conditioning is returning to five-on-five action, with scrimmages that mimic real game speed and movement.
“LeBron James has been working out individually, and I’m told the next step for him is five-on-five live play, and he will not be traveling in the Lakers’ upcoming five-game week-long road trip that starts in Atlanta this weekend.”
Lakers’ LeBron James has officially been cleared for contact basketball activities and will be re-evaluated in one to two weeks. Next step, ramping up to 5-on-5 action. https://t.co/jAUEPz7X3B
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 6, 2025
Charania concluded, “So it’s unclear whether he’s going to be able to get that live action when the team is on the road, potentially doing it with the G League South Bay team or do the Lakers and LeBron wait for the team to get back on November 16, and the live play process can begin then.”
The NBA insider also pointed out that James’ advancing age may prompt the Lakers, who still expect him to make his debut in mid-November, to take things at a slower pace. James’ activities during the Lakers’ upcoming road trip will go a long way in speeding up his return to the team.
Since the Lakers are doing quite well without him — a fact that James has clearly noticed — one can understand why he is hesitant to return to the lineup unless he is at full strength and capable of giving his complete effort. Fans are left hoping that James undergoes no setback during his upcoming five-on-five training.
