Mark your calendars. We have a LeBron comeback date. And no, this is not another Hennessy false alarm. After scrimmaging with the G-League kids, LeBron James was back to practice with his grownup team. The Lakers are close to being whole again. But of course, the big Q remains. How is Bron going to fit in with a 10-4 team that’s Luka-focused, got Austin Reaves on a breakout season, and Deandre Ayton becoming a consistent big man?

That question was thrown out at the media scrum during LeBron James’ first practice back with the Lakers, the main ones, not South Bay. In typical King James confidence that needs to be bottled and sold, the 40-year-old shut down the implications that he’s a washout. “I’m a ball player.” That’s the long and short of it.

“The best thing about me and the way I’ve built my game over my whole life, and the coaches since I was in Little League, I’ve never had a position. Spo used to always say, ‘Positionless basketball. Be positionless.’” That’s a small reference to Erik Spoelstra, the Miami Heat coach Bron won his first two championships with. Clearly he’s still carrying his lessons with him.

And he may have also hinted that he’s cool with being the next option after Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves if it’s for the greater good. “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. So whatever this team needs me to do, and more I can do it when I’m back to myself.”

By most observations today, LeBron James is back to himself. He even told reporters he lost his voice barking out calls and assignments. That sounds like everything is falling into place despite the commentary of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, the Morris Twins, etcetera, etcetera.

James is only back to practice after scrimmaging with the South Bay Lakers. There is still a bit of a wait for him to really, really come back. So why the tall promises?

The most positive LeBron James update is here

The primary reason everyone wants to know if LeBron James can fit in with the Lakers after missing a month of the 2025-26 season and practicing in the G-League while the big boys are winning, is because the King is coming back to the court. There’s now a very likely, possible, almost confirmed date for the start of year 23. He’d be the first player in the history of the NBA to have a 23rd season.

The first team that will likely have to deal with Bron on an agenda is the Utah Jazz as early as tomorrow (the Lakers will play against them again on Sunday too). The Lakers injury report stated and Shams Charania confirmed it that James is listed as ‘questionable’ for Tuesday (November 18) night’s game. That’s a huge upgrade from ‘ruled out for 2-3 weeks.’

It’s unlikely that he’d be put in the game tomorrow. This practice is the decider. He’s gotten through practice without his sciatica nerve acting up. But when asked if he’s pain-free, he said, “I wouldn’t go that far.” He’s keeping a positive mindset through this but he’s not a 100% yet.

JJ Redick is not bursting at the seams to kickstart Bron’s delayed season just yet. His response to upgrading James’ ‘questionable’ status was a less promising, “TBD.” If Redick doesn’t play him tomorrow, the Lakers will have a nice five-day break to get some more practice in with Bron before meeting the Jazz again.

Either way, James is itching to get back into the game. He reached an undesirable career milestone by missing his first ever season opener for any reason at all. He said he didn’t enjoy rehabbing alone but used it as motivation to rejoin the team. Now we only need to wait and see when that happens.