LeBron James is listed as questionable for Tuesday’s home game against the Utah Jazz, signaling his potential return after missing the preseason due to a sciatica injury.
James, who turns 41 next month, emphasized the importance of repetition and rehab in preparing to get back to “where I can feel like myself again.”
Discussing his progress, James said, “It’s just been kind of the same revolving door. Just repetition, repetition, repetition, rehabbing, rehabbing, rehabbing.”
He described his early practice with the team as both humbling and energizing: “It was great… I got cleared to play some five-on-five for the first time since hurting my MCL versus Minnesota. That was the blessing.”
On adjusting mentally, James admitted, “It sucks. Definitely sucks. Never in my life since I started playing the game of basketball have I ever not started a season in my life.”
James highlighted the physical demands of recovering from sciatica: “If you ever had it, you just go about it. You wake up one day and hope that when you step down out of the bed, you don’t feel it… it’s a lot of exercises and a lot of mobility things.”
He also shared how he’s monitoring his body daily to make decisions about playing: “We’ve been taking literally one minute, one hour, one step at a time throughout this whole process… see how the body responds over the next 24 hours plus.”
LeBron praised the Lakers’ team chemistry while he was sidelined: “Everyone enjoys being around each other and love playing for one another. A lot of guys sacrificing… I know ways I can help this team right away when I am put back in the lineup.”
Regarding his versatile role, James emphasized his adaptability: “I’m a ball player… there’s not one team, one club in the world that I can’t fit in and play for. I can do everything on the floor.”
Reflecting on the missed competition, he said, “I definitely miss the competition and miss these guys… just seeing them going out there and working. I love the work. I love the process of working.”
