Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James continues to work out individually whereas recovering from the sciatica affecting his decrease again and proper facet, and the subsequent step in his return might be progressing to stay 5-on-5 reps in apply, sources informed ESPN’s Shams Charania on Wednesday.
James is not going to journey with the Lakers on their upcoming five-game journey by way of Atlanta, Charlotte, Oklahoma Metropolis, New Orleans and Milwaukee, sources informed ESPN.
Whereas the Lakers are on the street, their G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, might be training on the workforce’s apply facility in El Segundo, California. It’s unclear whether or not James would be part of South Bay for practices or watch for the Lakers to return for a gaggle session, sources informed Charania.
This implies the earliest James might return is Nov. 18, when L.A. hosts the Utah Jazz.
Final week, Lakers coach JJ Redick outlined a tough timeline for when the workforce might welcome the 40-year-old again to the lineup.
“Clearly, this factor has to proceed to progress with all of his return-to-play protocols,” Redick mentioned. “So we do not have, like, a goal date. It is simply someplace in that common timeline. We hope that he is sort of checked all of the packing containers and goes to be again someday in that second or third week in November.”
Thursday will mark 4 weeks for the reason that Lakers introduced James’ sciatica analysis on Oct. 9. At the moment, the workforce mentioned it will reevaluate him in three to 4 weeks and supply an replace.
L.A. has began the season 6-2 with out James.
Each time James performs his first sport for the Lakers, he’ll grow to be the primary participant in league historical past to have performed 23 seasons within the NBA.