NBA

Is LeBron James playing tonight? Lakers host Jazz as fans wait for The King’s 2025-26 NBA season debut

The Los Angeles Lakers host the Utah Jazz at home, while awaiting the full return of LeBron James.

LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers.
© Harry How/Getty ImagesLeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Los Angeles Lakers continue to march strongly in the Western Conference, and the impressive part of this campaign is that they’ve secured 10 wins without LeBron James on the court. Many are eagerly anticipating The King’s long-awaited debut of the 2025-26 NBA season tonight against the Utah Jazz.

Hope began to grow slowly among fans as the franchise officially listed James as questionable, prompting many to wonder if the team’s superstar would indeed make his debut against the Jazz.

According to NBA insider Shams Charania, James plans to be on the court tonight, officially marking his debut in his 23rd season. “Reporting for NBA Today — Lakers’ LeBron James aims to make a historic season debut tonight against the Utah Jazz,”the insider revealed via X.

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One of the greatest players in history has looked much healthier since his injury and wants to join his teammates at the Crypto.com Arena, aiming to secure the team’s 11th regular-season win.

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What injury has James been dealing with?

The start of the 2025-26 NBA season has been missing one key component: LeBron James. A persistent right sciatica injury has kept the four-time champion superstar sidelined, preventing him from making his highly anticipated season debut.

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While the Lakers have managed to weather the storm thanks to MVP-caliber play from Luka Doncic, all eyes remain fixed on James’ recovery timeline. His extended absence marks a rare delay to the start of a campaign for the veteran forward, leaving fans and analysts eager for The King to finally step onto the court and integrate himself into the revamped Los Angeles rotation.

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On a steady path

The Los Angeles Lakers have enjoyed a strong start to the new NBA season, currently holding an impressive 10-4 record. Much of this early success is attributed to the sensational play of Luka Doncic, who has stepped up as the clear leader and primary engine of the team.

Doncic is consistently putting up MVP-caliber numbers, driving the offense, and dominating the game on both ends of the floor. Meanwhile, the team and fans are eagerly awaiting the debut of superstar LeBron James. His comeback is expected to further elevate the Lakers’ championship aspirations, prompting one of the most formidable duos in the league once he steps onto the court.

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