Nov 18, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reacts against the Utah Jazz in the fourth quarter at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

'Pretty Good G League Player Over There' – Los Angeles Lakers Star Trolls LeBron James on His 2025-26 Season Debut

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics | By Jordan Samar | Last updated Nov 19, 2025 6:09 AM ET

Austin Reaves couldn’t help but poke fun at LeBron James , who made his season debut for the Los Angeles Lakers in their 140-126 home win against the Utah Jazz last night.

James missed the Los Angeles Lakers’ first 14 games due to sciatica, and the 40-year-old worked his way back through the G League, which Reaves emphasized during his postgame interview with Jovan Buha of The Athletic.

“Pretty good G League player over there… The G raised him,” Reaves said. “He had 12 assists and one turnover — not bad at all. But it’s not as good as mine, which was 1-to-4.”

Nov 18, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) shoots the ball against Utah Jazz forward Kevin Love (42), guard Ace Bailey (19) and forward Kyle Anderson (2) in the second quarter at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

In his first game back, James contributed 11 points and 12 rebounds on 4-for-7 shooting from the field across 30 minutes of action. The Los Angeles Lakers star also managed to pass Reggie Miller for sixth-most three-pointers in NBA history.

Los Angeles Lakers News: LeBron James dishes on coming back from injury

During the postgame presser, LeBron James admitted that he missed playing basketball at a high level. More importantly, he missed playing alongside his Los Angeles Lakers teammates, such as Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic.

Kwame Brown Says LeBron James Played Safe Under Spotlight - “He’s Not Going Out There to Shoot” 4 Nov 18, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) throws powdered chalk into the air during the game against the Utah Jazz at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

“It was just fun to be out there with the guys. Like I said, it’s been rough mentally for me. This is the first time I’ve started a basketball season and not played since I’ve started playing basketball at like nine years old. I’ve never missed the beginning of the basketball season. Just going through that physically, emotionally, spiritually, and everything just testing me,” James stated via Ryan Ward of Lakers Nation.

“Keeping my head down with the work and keeping my head up with faith, it’s gotten me to this point today. It’s just great. A lot of joy. You will probably see me smiling and talking a lot on the court today. Just being out with those guys is so fun,” he concluded.