LeBron James has yet to play a single game this regular season. A record first for the 40-year-old veteran. He is entering his 23rd NBA campaign, and eighth with the Los Angeles Lakers, but he has missed training camp and the season opener. The Lakers are now 7-2 with their latest win against the Spurs last night. All without their long-time floor leader. This also marks a rare interruption in the King’s career, which is defined by availability. Earlier reports suggested a mid to late November comeback. Now there is a new update.

According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, “James has now been cleared for contact basketball activities and will be re-evaluated in one to two weeks. The next phase in his recovery is ramping up to full 5-on-5 action, signaling that he’s on course for a return if all goes well.”

Appearing on the ESPN NBA Countdown show, Charania detailed the exact way the Lakers will make themselves ready for James. Their roster now has 5 on-road games, where the Lakers do not usually perform well; they are on a 0-2 record in their last games, where they had to travel. Anyways, a speculative November 18 return can be estimated for LeBron.

“LeBron James has been working out individually, and I’m told the next step for him is 5-on-5 live play,” Shams Charania said. His report confirms that while James has cleared contact drills, he’s still in the transition phase.

The Lakers’ have decided to keep him from traveling during their upcoming five-game road trip beginning in Atlanta this weekend. As Charania noted, “He will not be traveling on the Lakers’ upcoming five-game, week-long road trip that starts in Atlanta this weekend.”

This pause will allow LeBron to complete his ramp-up in a controlled environment. There is a possibility he will join the South Bay Lakers, their G League affiliate, to simulate live play before joining.

Charania further explained that “Lakers personnel are still operating under the belief LeBron James’ debut will be around mid-November, but this is uncharted territory. He turns 41 next month.”

That timeline aligns with the Lakers’ schedule. Their road trip ends on November 16, which could coincide with LeBron’s first live team scrimmages. His right sciatica diagnosis came on October 30, 2025. As Charania highlighted, the Lakers’ front office had anticipated this moment. That is why their roster saw addition of Jake LaRavia, Deandre Ayton, and Marcus Smart. To ensure Los Angeles stays afloat while “one of the best players of all time” heals. But his future still remains uncertain.

Charles Barkley urges LeBron James to consider retirement

Charles Barkley made comments this week that struck a nerve across the NBA landscape. “They said sciatica, they could’ve just wrote ‘old’,” he quipped, pointing to the reality surrounding his tenure. “All old people’s backs hurt,” Barkley said on The Jim Rome Show. LeBron James is the oldest player in the NBA right now. He is waging a battle few athletes in history have won. This may sound like a harsh criticism, but his comments come from a place of empathy.

“I hope he leaves sooner than later, ‘cause I hate to see great players out there struggling,” he admitted, while recalling his own final, years in the league. “I really struggled my last year, probably my last two years. It was very frustrating and humiliating for me….Obviously, LeBron is a better player than me, but I don’t want to see great players just hanging on.”

Who does not want their favorite player to keep playing? But there comes a time when one has to make a move. There were even talks of his stint with the Lakers could come to an end. “Is he going to finish his career with the Lakers, or somewhere else?” Charania had asked in a podcast. But Barkley suggests a different plan altogether. 

“I would love to see him have a farewell tour, then just walk away because he’s one of the three greatest players I’ve ever seen after Michael and Kobe.”

The back issues aside, James averaged 24 points, 8 assists, and nearly 8 rebounds last season. He hasn’t hinted at retirement, while his team is trying to keep up without him. Speaking of which, the Lakers do seem to be in great hands.

This season, both Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves have delivered explosive performances. Dončić came close to the 50-point mark with a season-high 49 points. Meanwhile, Reaves who emerged as a serious underdog, stunned fans with a career-best 51-point game. Together, their outbursts have kept the Lakers’ offense thriving. So LeBron James’ absence has allowed the young guns to take charge, proving the next generation is more than capable.