LeBron James Begins 23rd NBA Season with Strong Performance

LOS ANGELES — LeBron James kicked off his remarkable 23rd season on Tuesday night, and it was hard to tell he’d been off the court for nearly seven months—well, except for maybe his noticeably taxed lungs.

Coming back from an injury, James fit right in with the Los Angeles Lakers, who have been enjoying a solid run lately.

In the Lakers’ 140-126 victory over the Utah Jazz, James showcased his playmaking skills, starting the game and logging 29 minutes. He recorded 11 points, 12 assists, and three rebounds.

Reflecting on the game, James said, “The pace tested me, but I was happy to go along with the guys. As the game went on, the wind got a lot better. We caught our second wind, we caught our third wind. We’re obviously still getting our rhythm back. It was our first game in almost seven months, so everything that happened tonight was as expected.”

After such an extensive basketball journey, the challenges of returning from injuries don’t catch James off guard.

At 40, James has been dealing with sciatica, which kept him out of training camp, the preseason, and the Lakers’ opening 14 regular-season games. Interestingly, he had never missed a season opener since he started playing organized basketball three decades ago. Last week, he returned to full contact practices, gearing up for the new season.

Some wondered if his return might disrupt the Lakers, who had a strong start at 10-4 without him. He found this amusing.

“I can fit in with anyone,” he stated. “I don’t even understand why that was a question. What’s wrong with these guys here? I fit right in with anybody. I just watched them for the first 14 games and prepared myself (mentally) by observing the games.”

About half an hour before the game, it was confirmed that James would make his 1,561st start in his 1,563rd regular-season game. The crowd erupted when he was introduced in the starting lineup.

During his initial 11 minutes, he didn’t score, but quickly found his rhythm, nailing two 3-pointers in the second quarter and dishing out eight assists in the second half, with six of those coming in just over three minutes early in the fourth quarter.

Deandre Ayton, a new addition to the Lakers, was left impressed by James’ passing abilities. He recalled that the alley-oop dunk he received from James was the second lob he’d ever gotten from him, the first being years ago at James’ camp in Las Vegas.

Lakers coach JJ Redick praised James, saying, “He played with the right mindset. Very unselfish all night. He was a willing passer. He didn’t force it.” He appreciated James’ ability to read the game and make good decisions.

While James admitted he wasn’t in peak condition, he was eager to take on this new chapter in his storied career. Redick noted that James might’ve played even more if the team hadn’t left Utah.

“LeBron is a superhero to a lot of us,” Redick remarked, acknowledging the rarity of James’ accomplishments.

James becomes the first player ever to play 23 seasons in the NBA. Vince Carter, who retired in 2020, played for 22 seasons, while a handful of others, including Chris Paul, are in their 21st season.

By taking the court, James is now just 48 games away from the all-time NBA record for regular-season appearances, previously held by Robert Parrish. Additionally, he has broken the record for total minutes played, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Although James has said he doesn’t foresee this season being his last, he hasn’t made a firm decision about next year. His previous offseason was particularly challenging, with injuries that included a knee issue and the sciatica that took several months to heal.

He made history in February 2023 as the all-time leading scorer in the NBA and in March became the first player to reach 50,000 total points in regular-season and playoff games combined.

Throughout his career, James has earned multiple accolades, including four NBA Finals MVPs and 21 All-Star selections. He started with the Cleveland Cavaliers in October 2003, just before his oldest son, Bronny, was born.

In 2020, he led the Lakers to their 17th championship. Last spring, they won the Pacific Division title after acquiring Luka Dončić midseason.

The Lakers are set to face the Jazz again on Sunday in Salt Lake City. They’ll have at least a couple of practices before that game to help solidify James’ role within the team.

“You don’t have to worry about chemistry,” James noted. “This is a great group. Everyone enjoys being around each other, sacrificing for each other and playing for each other.” He emphasized the need to get back in shape and find his rhythm, acknowledging that missed opportunities will soon improve.