Year 23 for LeBron James is on the horizon.
The Los Angeles Lakers star has missed the opening weeks of the season while dealing with sciatica in his right side, but he continues to take steps toward a return, aiming to get back on the court soon.
In the meantime, the Lakers have managed just fine despite James’ absence and an injury that sidelined Luka Doncic for four of the team’s first seven games. Austin Reaves and several role players have stepped up, giving L.A. Confidence that it has the depth to contend in a loaded Western Conference.
Here’s what you need to know about James’ injury and potential return date.
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When will LeBron James return?
James is practicing with the G League's South Bay Lakers as he ramps up basketball activities and nears a return.
While the Lakers have not provided an exact timeline, this marks the first practice James has participated in since his sciatica injury was revealed in early October. James' first practice of the season came on Wednesday, with ESPN's Shams Charania reporting the 40-year-old "looked great" and is eager to return "mid-to-late" November.
James was initially ruled out for the first couple of weeks of the NBA season, but reports near opening night suggested he was targeting a mid-November return. He isn’t expected to play on the Lakers’ current road trip, which ends Nov. 15, but that timeline could prove fairly accurate.
Here’s a look at which game the Lakers could target for James’ return.
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LeBron James return date
The Lakers have yet to put a timetable on James' return, but he isn't expected to join the team during its current five-game road trip, according to ESPN.
Barring a change in that plan, that means the earliest James can return is the Lakers' first home game back on Nov. 18 against the Utah Jazz. L.A. Has an extended break after that matchup, as the team doesn't play again until Nov. 23 in Utah. If they decide to play it safe, the Lakers could give James five extra days to ramp up by sitting him out of the Nov. 18 contest.
Lakers upcoming schedule
| Date | Matchup | Time (ET) |
| Nov. 12 | at Thunder | 9:30 p.m. |
| Nov. 14 | at Pelicans | 8 p.m. |
| Nov. 15 | at Bucks | 8 p.m. |
| Nov. 18 | vs. Jazz | 10:30 p.m. |
| Nov. 23 | at Jazz | 8 p.m. |
| Nov. 25 | vs. Clippers | 11 p.m. |
| Nov. 28 | vs. Mavericks | 10 p.m. |
| Nov. 30 | vs. Pelicans | 9:30 p.m. |
| Dec. 1 | vs. Suns | 10 p.m. |
| Dec. 4 | at Raptors | 7:30 p.m. |
What happened to LeBron James?
James has been dealing with sciatica, which occurs when nerves are compressed in the lower spine. While each case is different, sciatica typically causes pain that shoots down into the leg on one side of the body.
The Lakers haven't offered many details about James' symptoms or when his pain began, but his timeline doesn't appear to have changed much since the October report that he was targeting a mid-November return, indicating he hasn't dealt with a major setback of any kind.
MORE: Expert medical analysis on LeBron James' sciatica injury
Sciatica recovery time
The length of recovery for an athlete dealing with sciatica depends on the circumstances and severity, but James’ return will come at least five weeks after the Lakers announced the diagnosis.
“The treatment of sciatica includes rest, anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, and sometimes epidural steroid injections,” Dr. Michael S. George of the KSF Orthopaedic Center in Houston told AllSportsPeople in October.
Surgery is a last resort, and James is not believed to have undergone any procedure. At this point, he appears to be nearing a return as he gets back on the practice floor for the first time since the injury.