Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James returned to the team's training session after being absent and has the opportunity to play his first game in the 2025-2026 NBA season against the Utah Jazz on Wednesday (11/19).
The NBA website stated on Tuesday in its latest injury report that James' status was upgraded to questionable after being sidelined for a lengthy period due to sciatica issues since the preseason.
"I just want to get back to being myself," the forward said .
The 40-year-old basketball player is on track to become the first player in NBA history to appear in 23 seasons. James missed the season opener after experiencing renewed nerve pain radiating from his hip to his lower back.
The knee ligament injury he suffered in last season's playoffs also delayed his training program by about 2 months.
He said that some mobility exercises helped him reduce the discomfort, but he was not completely pain-free.
The basketball player also trained with the G League affiliate team, the South Bay Lakers, as part of his recovery process before returning to the main squad.
LeBron James emphasized that he will try to gradually adapt to the team's rhythm, especially in collaboration with Deandre Ayton, as well as orchestrating the attack with Luka Doncic.
Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick welcomed James's return to full team practice. He believes the return of all players to the court for practice is a crucial asset for the Lakers, who have already posted an impressive 10-4 start to the season, despite dealing with various injuries.