Lakers get positive LeBron James injury update as return nears

Lakers Receive Positive Update on LeBron James' Injury

ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania shared the upcoming steps for Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James as he prepares for his return to the court. James, 40, has not played this season due to sciatica in his right side but is nearing a comeback for his unprecedented 23rd NBA season.

Despite James' absence, the Lakers have maintained solid performance. However, the team and fans are eagerly anticipating his return.

Next Steps for LeBron James

During an appearance on ESPN's NBA Today, Charania explained that LeBron is currently working out individually and the next milestone is to participate in 5-on-5 live gameplay.

“LeBron James has been working out individually, and I'm told that the next step for him is 5-on-5 live play,”

Charania also noted that James will not travel with the team on the upcoming five-game road trip starting this weekend in Atlanta. It remains uncertain whether James will join live play with the Lakers’ G League affiliate, South Bay, or wait for the main team’s return on November 16 to begin the live play process.

“It’s unclear when he will be able to get that live action while 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 then the live play process can begin then.”

The timeline for James’ full return to 5-on-5 play remains uncertain.

Summary

LeBron James is progressing carefully from a sciatica injury, with a 5-on-5 workout as his next key step before rejoining the Lakers’ full NBA schedule.

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Newsweek Newsweek — 2025-11-06

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