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<\/p>\nBy Canadian Press on November 19, 2025.<\/p>\n
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LOS ANGELES (AP) \u2014 LeBron James certainly didn\u2019t look like he had been away from an NBA court for nearly seven months when he began his unprecedented 23rd season Tuesday night \u2014 even if his burning lungs told him otherwise.<\/p>\n
After reaching another landmark in what is now officially the longest career in league history, James was not at all surprised to return from his lengthy injury absence by fitting in seamlessly with the surging Los Angeles Lakers in yet another victory.<\/p>\n
James had 11 points, 12 assists and three rebounds while starting and playing 29 minutes in the Lakers\u2019 140-126 win over the Utah Jazz, kicking off his new season with an impressive playmaking performance.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe pace tested me, but I was happy with the way I was able to go with the guys,\u201d James said. \u201cAs the game went on, my wind got a lot better. Caught my second wind, caught my third wind. Rhythm is still coming back, obviously. First game in almost seven months, so everything that happened tonight was to be expected.\u201d<\/p>\n
That\u2019s because not much can surprise James at this point in his basketball odyssey \u2014 not even the work necessary to overcome injuries.<\/p>\n
The 40-year-old James had been sidelined since the start of training camp by sciatica<\/a>, keeping him out of the preseason and the Lakers\u2019 first 14 games of the regular season. James, who had never missed a season opener since he started playing organized basketball three decades ago, returned to contact basketball activity<\/a> last week before participating in his first Lakers practice<\/a> of the new season Monday.<\/p>\n James realized that some observers wondered whether his presence would disrupt the Lakers, who got off to a 10-4 start without him. The four-time NBA champion could only laugh.<\/p>\n \u201cI can fit in with anybody,\u201d James said. \u201cI don\u2019t even understand why that was even a question. What\u2019s wrong with these people out here? I can fit in right away with anybody. Just watching the guys the first 14 games, I was putting myself (mentally) in position while I was watching the games of how I could help the team and how I could be successful to help those guys. I\u2019m still able to gain a lot of eyes when I\u2019m driving the ball or have the ball.\u201d<\/p>\n About 30 minutes before tipoff, the team confirmed James would start for the 1,561st time in his 1,563rd regular-season games. He got a loud ovation when he was announced first in the Lakers\u2019 starting lineup.<\/p>\n James didn\u2019t score in his first 11 minutes on court, but soon found his rhythm. After hitting a pair of 3-pointers in the second quarter, he recorded eight assists in the second half \u2014 including six in just over three minutes early in the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n Deandre Ayton was visibly impressed by James\u2019 passing during his first chance to play in a game alongside his new teammate. The Lakers\u2019 new center noted that the alley-oop pass he threw down for a dunk was actually the second lob he had ever received from James \u2014 the first was at James\u2019 basketball camp in Las Vegas when Ayton, a future No. 1 overall pick, was in the eighth grade.<\/p>\n \u201cHe played with the right spirit,\u201d Lakers coach JJ Redick said of James. \u201cVery unselfish all night. Was a willing passer. Didn\u2019t force it. Took his drives and his shots when they were there. The defense is going to pay attention to him, and I just thought he made a lot of great decisions tonight. Really great to have him back.\u201d<\/p>\n James said Monday that his body isn\u2019t in ideal game shape, but he was eager to get started on his latest milestone achievement in a career packed with distinction. Redick was also impressed by James\u2019 fitness, saying he could have played more minutes if the Lakers hadn\u2019t already run away from Utah.<\/p>\n \u201cLeBron is, for a lot of us that played with him, or some of these guys that grew up watching him, he\u2019s a superhero,\u201d said Redick, who played 15 NBA seasons. \u201cWhat he\u2019s been able to do in this game, there\u2019s a handful of guys that have been able to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n James is the first player ever to participate in 23 NBA seasons<\/a>.<\/p>\n Vince Carter played in 22 seasons in a career that concluded in 2020, while five players have made it through 21 seasons: Robert Parish, Kevin Willis, Kevin Garnett, Dirk Nowitzki and 40-year-old Chris Paul, who currently plays for the Los Angeles Clippers. Philadelphia guard Kyle Lowry is in his 20th season.<\/p>\n With this debut, James is now just 48 games behind Parish\u2019s NBA record for regular-season games played (1,611). James already holds another NBA record with 1,855 regular-season and playoff games combined \u2014 58 more than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar \u2014 along with the record for most total minutes played.<\/p>\n James has repeatedly said he isn\u2019t assuming this season will be his last<\/a>, but he also hasn\u2019t decided whether he\u2019ll play another year. His most recent offseason was injury-plagued, with two months of recovery after spraining his knee ligament during the Lakers\u2019 first-round playoff loss to Minnesota followed by that painful bout of sciatica \u2014 pain in the nerves running from the buttocks and down the back of the legs.<\/p>\n James became the top scorer in NBA history<\/a> in February 2023. Last March, he became the first NBA player to put up 50,000 total points<\/a> in the regular season and playoffs combined.<\/p>\n James is a four-time NBA Finals MVP who also has four league MVP awards and 21 All-Star selections. His career began with the Cleveland Cavaliers in October 2003, a year before the birth of his oldest son and current Lakers teammate, Bronny James.<\/p>\n James led the Lakers to the franchise\u2019s 17th championship in the Florida bubble in 2020. Los Angeles made the Western Conference finals again in 2023, and it won the Pacific Division title last spring after acquiring Luka Doncic<\/a>, James\u2019 self-described favorite current player, near midseason.<\/p>\n Los Angeles\u2019 next game isn\u2019t until Sunday \u2014 also against the Jazz in Salt Lake City. The Lakers will have at least two practices before then, allowing James to continue to establish his chemistry and his role.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t have to worry about chemistry,\u201d James said. \u201cThis is a great group. Everyone enjoys being around each another, sacrificing for one another, playing for one another. (Just got to) get my wind, get my rhythm back. Missed a couple of chippies tonight that I\u2019m used to making. But that will come around.\u201d<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n