Los Angeles, CA – November 02: Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) sits on the bench during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat at Crypto.com Arena on Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025 in Los Angeles, CA. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
For weeks, James has been dealing with lingering sciatica in his right leg and his return to the court has been up in the air. Now, there’s a flicker of light breaking through the tunnel — one that could soon lead to his long-awaited return.
The Los Angeles Lakers announced Thursday that James has been cleared for contact basketball activity, marking a significant milestone in his recovery from his sciatica issue that sidelined him before the season even began. He’ll be reevaluated by the team’s medical staff in one to two weeks — a window that could align with the Lakers’ return home in mid-November.
For a player entering his 23rd NBA season, this is uncharted territory — not just for him, but for the sport itself. No one has ever played at this level, this long, and made it look so effortless. But sciatica, a nerve condition that can send pain shooting down the leg, doesn’t care for history. It doesn’t bend for legacy. It demands patience, and James, ever the competitor, has had to surrender to it.
Over the past month, the 40-year-old has been grinding quietly at the team’s El Segundo facility, working out individually and rebuilding the strength and rhythm needed to withstand the NBA’s relentless pace. The next step — full five-on-five practice — looms as the last gate before his season debut. With the Lakers embarking on a five-game road trip beginning Saturday in Atlanta, James is expected to remain in Los Angeles to continue his progression.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick, measured yet optimistic, recently hinted that James could be back “sometime in that second or third week of November,” depending on how he responds to ramp-up work. In theory, that could line up with the Lakers’ next home stand starting November 18 — a date fans are circling in hopeful pencil.
If LeBron needs live action before then, the Lakers could send him for controlled runs with their G League affiliate in El Segundo — a humble but practical step for a king returning to his throne.
In his absence,After Wednesday night’s 118–116 comeback win over the San Antonio Spurs, their fifth straight victory, the Lakers sit at 7–2, reminding the league that this roster has evolved.
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Still, LeBron’s presence is irreplaceable. The anticipation around his return isn’t just about what the Lakers need — it’s about what basketball itself misses. That blend of wisdom and wonder. The way he orchestrates tempo, senses pressure before it arrives, and turns moments into monuments.
So the question isn’t if LeBron James will return — it’s when the game will once again feel whole.
For now, all signs point to mid-to-late November. But whenever the moment arrives, the building will buzz like it’s the first time all over again. Because after 23 seasons, the game still waits for him — and somewhere deep down, so do we.
