LeBron James is expected to make his 2025-26 season debut Tuesday evening when the Lakers face the Utah Jazz at Crypto.com Arena after missing the first 14 games of the because of sciatica.
James was upgraded to available in the injury report released at 6:30 p.m. after being listed as questionable.
James participated in his first Lakers practice of the season Monday at the UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo after practicing at least twice last week with the team’s NBA G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers.
James said the most important thing was “getting my lungs back up to a grown man. My lungs feel like a newborn baby.”
The 40-year-old James also said “my voice is already gone one day back, barking out calls and assignments and stuff.”
For James, the condition is on his right side. Sciatica affects the lower back and down the side of the body. He said he also had it two years ago.
When James makes his 2025-26 debut, he will become the first player in NBA history to play in 23 seasons. Vince Carter is the only other player to play 22 seasons.
James is two 3-point baskets away from passing Reggie Miller to move into sixth on the all-time list.
Tuesday’s game marks the Lakers’ return to Crypto.com Arena following a 3-2 road trip, including winning the final two games.
The Lakers are 10-4, fourth in the 15-team Western Conference, percentage points behind third-place Houston (9-3). The defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder lead the conference with a 14-1 record.
The Lakers were also 10-4 through 14 games last season.
The Lakers’ 17-player roster includes nine players who were with the team through 14 games last season. The biggest change since then was the Feb. 2 acquisition of Luka Doncic from Dallas Mavericks in a three-team trade where center Anthony Davis was the key Laker sent to Dallas.
Doncic leads the NBA in scoring, averaging 34.4 points per game. Doncic has scored 40 or more points in four of his 10 games.
The Jazz (5-8) are led by 7-foot forward Lauri Markkanen, sixth in the league in scoring, averaging 30.6 points per game. He has three games with 40 or more points, including a career-high 51 against the Phoenix Suns on Oct. 27.
The 7:30 p.m. game will be televised by Spectrum SportsNet, broadcast in English by ESPN LA 710 and in Spanish by 1330 KWKW.