LeBron James finally made his season debut for the Los Angeles Lakers against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night. James had missed the entire preseason and the Lakers’ first 14 regular season games due to a sciatica problem.
Injuries have tested the Lakers’ depth from the jump this season. After a summer when they looked to add more talent to its bench, the purple and gold then saw those reserves immediately placed into larger-than-expected roles with mixed results.
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James made his season debut in Tuesday night’s win over the Utah Jazz, becoming the first player in NBA history to play in 23 seasons.
Who is the best player in the history of every NBA franchise? That’s a tough question. Who is the most iconic player in the history of every NBA franchise?
After a summer of speculation about James' future, perhaps he is right where he needs to be as he tries to put the finishing touches on his illustrious career.
Deandre Ayton is already close to surpassing a personal milestone after playing in just 14 games for the Los Angeles Lakers. The Los Angeles Lakers are off to a terrific start to the 2025-26 NBA season as they currently flaunt an 11-4 record in the loaded Western Conference.
The Los Angeles Lakers have been one of the best teams to open the 2025-26 season despite missing LeBron James. James was forced to miss the start of the season due to a sciatica issue, but the Lakers star finally made his way back to the court during the team’s home game against the Utah Jazz.
Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves have both gotten off to career-best starts with the Los Angeles Lakers this season, and their relationship off the court appears to be thriving as much as it is on it.
The air in the arena was thick with anticipation for the Lakers, a palpable buzz that had nothing to do with the usual Tuesday night crowd. This was different.
The Lakers faced the Jazz in what was LeBron James’ season debut for the franchise. While all eyes in the arena were fixed on LeBron, a significant number of their fans were also watching on their TV and league pass broadcasts at home.
LeBron James had a quiet scoring night in his belated 2025-26 debut. But for a Los Angeles Lakers team that started 10-4 in his absence, he's the perfect addition to a formidable-looking Lakers roster.
The Los Angeles Lakers' season could hinge on the performance of center Deandre Ayton, who the team signed over the offseason. “We need the best version of him for us to be as good as we can be,” Lakers guard Austin Reaves told Dan Woike of The Athletic. “If he’s that, then we can be a really good team.