EL SEGUNDO — The Lakers welcomed back a familiar face on Monday.
LeBron James practiced with the team for the first time after being sidelined for the last 1 ½ months because of sciatica on his right side.
“My lungs feel like a newborn baby, that’s the most important thing,” a hoarse-voiced James said in his first media availability since the team’s Media Day on Sept. 29. “I got to get my lungs back up to a grown man. My voice is already gone. One day back, barking out calls and assignments and stuff, getting my voice working again. Be a lot of tea and rest [Monday night].”
Coach JJ Redick said it had not determined as of Monday afternoon whether James, who’ll play an unprecedented 23rd NBA season, is available to make his debut in Tuesday’s home game against the Utah Jazz.
Redick added that Rui Hachimura and Marcus Smart, both of whom sat out of Saturday’s road win over the Milwaukee Bucks, are expected to be available on Tuesday.
James offered insight into what’ll determine whether he makes his season debut on Tuesday.
“We’ve got a long time,” James said. “I mean, we’ve been taking literally one minute, one hour, one step at a time throughout this whole process. So see how I feel this afternoon, see how I feel tonight. When I wake up [Tuesday] morning, we’ll probably have shootaround. So, just gotta see how the body responds over the next 24 hours-plus.”
The 40-year-old star forward had never missed the start of a previous season.
“It sucks, it definitely sucks,” James said. “Never in my life, since I started playing the game of basketball, have I ever not started the season. “So it’s been a mind test, but I’m built for it. Been putting in the work, both mentally and physically, just trying to get myself ready to rejoin the team.”
James shared that he dealt with sciatica two years ago during the offseason before the more recent flare-up.
“You had it, then you know what the hell it’s about,” James said. “If you ain’t never had it and people are making jokes about it, I pray you never get it. It’s not fun.”
Related Articles
Lakers’ LeBron James expected to return to practice Luka Doncic scores 41 as Lakers pummel Bucks Bronny James starts 1st game of season for short-handed Lakers against Bucks Lakers stave off Pelicans for 2nd NBA Cup victory Lakers rookie Adou Thiero available to make NBA debutHence then, the article about lakers lebron james returns to practice unsure if he ll play vs utah was published today ( ) and is available on Los Angeles Daily News ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Lakers’ LeBron James returns to practice, unsure if he’ll play vs. Utah )
Also on site :
- PIN Stockholder Alert: Shareholder Rights Law Firm Robbins LLP Reminds Investors of the Class Action Lawsuit Against Pinterest, Inc.
- Spain’s FA condemns Islamophobic chants during game with Egypt
- Teenagers wreak havoc in Clapham during Easter holiday ‘link up’