LeBron James could make his 2025-26 season debut for the Los Angeles Lakers tonight against the Utah Jazz at Crypto.com Arena after missing the first 14 games with right sciatica. James practiced without restrictions on Monday, raising the possibility he will suit up alongside Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
NBA personnel told Mark Medina of RG that integrating James into a Lakers lineup playing well without him will be a challenge. “He’s never been great in a complementary role,” an assistant coach said, noting James’ value comes from his size, experience, and ability to handle the ball.
“LeBron is not going to sit in the corner, and neither is Luka. So who is?” an NBA scout said, noting defensive concerns with three ball-dominant players on the floor.
A scout added the defensive alignment may suffer with all three ball-dominant players on the floor. “If you have LeBron, Austin and Luka, you possibly have the worst defensive team in the league,” the scout said, highlighting concerns with rotations and matchups.
James’ past performance shows he can still contribute significantly; last season, he averaged 24.4 points, 8.2 assists, and 7.8 rebounds in 34.9 minutes per game. Officials expect his minutes to start around 20 to manage workload while adjusting to his new role with Doncic and Reaves.
The assistant coach noted that LeBron’s focus on numbers and legacy could complicate integration. “If he’s not getting usage, he can’t get the numbers. Then, if he’s not getting the numbers, how would he respond?” they said. Managing his minutes and role will be key to keeping chemistry intact.
Both NBA evaluators praised James’ longevity and All-Star consistency over 23 seasons. “It’s incredible. There’s never been anything like that,” the assistant coach said, emphasizing his combination of skill, basketball IQ, and durability as unmatched in NBA history.
The Lakers (10-4) have won consecutive games over Milwaukee and New Orleans, while Utah (5-8) recently split results with Chicago and Atlanta. The Jazz will be without Walker Kessler, Georges Niang, John Tonje, and Oscar Tshiebwe, while Los Angeles also lists Gabe Vincent as questionable with a left ankle sprain.
If James returns, the Lakers will feature three playmakers capable of creating offense: James, Doncic, and Reaves. Deandre Ayton anchors the paint, averaging 16.2 points and 8.4 rebounds, while Utah leans on Lauri Markkanen (30.6 PPG) and Keyonte George (22.2 PPG, 7.0 APG).
