LeBron James Season Debut Nears After Latest Development

The Los Angeles Lakers have been off to an incredible start in 2025–26, and with the duo of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves leading the way, they've posted a record of 10–4 through their first 14 games. On paper, this is a roster that is going as far as Doncic is going to take them, but they're yet to get their second biggest star back, with LeBron James starting the season on the sidelines.

Now, his return is drawing near, as he recently spent the week with the G League's South Bay Lakers, going through an intense week of practice and scrimmages with the team. After that, James has officially been reassigned to Los Angeles, and while his season debut has yet to be officially confirmed by the Lakers, he's at the final hurdle before returning to the NBA floor this season.

On Monday, James is expected to be a full participant in Lakers practice, and with their next game set to take place on Tuesday at home against the Utah Jazz, there's a potential opportunity that he makes his season debut in that matchup. In years gone by, getting James back would be a dream come true for a team, but given how the chemistry of the team has been under the leadership of Doncic and Reaves, his role on the team will now be interesting to monitor.

Ultimately, though, this is a team that needs to find a way to have all three of James, Reaves, and Doncic going, and if they can do that while being 100% healthy, this is a team to fear in the loaded Western Conference.