Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James is nearing a return.
On Sunday, ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported James (suffering from sciatica on his right side) has been reassigned to the Lakers from NBA G League South Bay. He will be a full participant at practice on Monday, having completed multiple days of practice and five-on-five sessions during his rehab assignment. He’s set to begin his 23rd season soon.
How LeBron James’ imminent return helps the Lakers
Despite being without future Hall of Famer James, the Lakers haven’t struggled this season. Entering Sunday, L.A. (10-4) is fourth in the Western Conference, behind the Houston Rockets (8-3), Denver Nuggets (10-2) and Oklahoma City Thunder (13-1).
During this stretch, star guard Luka Doncic has been playing like an early MVP candidate. Through his first 10 games, the 26-year-old superstar has led the league in scoring (34.4 points per game). Fellow guard Austin Reaves looks sharp as well, as he has averaged 28.3 PPG through 11 games, the 10th-best mark in the league.