TL;DR
- Los Angeles Lakers achieved tenth win, beating Milwaukee Bucks 119-95.
- Lakers are nearing LeBron James' return from G League after injury.
- James completed G League practices without lingering injury effects.
- LeBron James' return could boost Lakers' already strong offensive and defensive play.
Last night, the Los Angeles Lakers secured their tenth victory of the season, defeating the Milwaukee Bucks with a commanding 119-95 score. This win places them alongside the Pistons, Nuggets, and Thunder as the sole franchises boasting over ten wins.
This season, Los Angeles has faced significant injury challenges, particularly affecting their key players. While Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves have each sat out a number of games, the most impactful absence has been LeBron James, who has been sidelined for the entire season.
The start Los Angeles has achieved without James hasn't been easy. Their success has hinged on their healthy stars, alongside contributions from role players such as Deandre Ayton, Rui Hachimura, and Marcus Smart.
Luckily for the Purple and Gold, they might not have to wait much longer for the NBA’s All-Time points leader.
More: Lakers injury report: Updates on Rui Hachimura and Marcus Smart
The Lakers are on the verge of signing LeBron James to their roster.
Shams Charania of ESPN announced LeBron James has been moved back to the Lakers from their G League team, the South Bay Lakers, as of Sunday morning, and he's expected to fully participate in the Lakers' practice on Monday.
Sources informed ESPN that LeBron James has been returned to the Lakers from the NBA G League South Bay and will fully engage in Lakers practice on Monday. James concluded several days of practices and 5-on-5 sessions in the G League this week, and his debut is approaching.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 16, 2025
He further stated that James participated in several practice sessions with South Bay. He engaged in 5-on-5 play and, according to reports, experienced no lingering effects from his injury afterward.
LeBron James coming back into this lineup should strike fear around the league.
The Lakers have showcased some of the league's top offensive displays, largely due to the play of Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. On the defensive end, they've exceeded expectations, featuring a revitalized Marcus Smart and a career resurgence from Deandre Ayton.
Although we might observe a decline in the extraordinary statistics Dončić and Reaves have been achieving, it's difficult to dismiss the idea that an increase in victories won't be an associated outcome.
The Lakers are set to play their next game on Tuesday at home against the Utah Jazz. That could just end up being LeBron James’ debut.
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