LOS ANGELES, United States, Nov 19, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - LeBron James will play his first game of the NBA season for the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday after missing almost a full month of the campaign due to sciatica, according to reports.

ESPN, citing unnamed sources, said the four-time NBA champion and four-time NBA Most Valuable Player will take the court in a league-record 23rd career campaign at home against Utah.

Spectrum SportsNet, the local Lakers telecaster, reported that Lakers coach JJ Redick said James was "trending in the right direction" to make his season debut against the Jazz.

The 40-year-old superstar missed the first 14 games of the season with nerve pain in his back and lower right side.

Without him, the Lakers went 10-4 and stand fourth in the Western Conference.

James, the NBA's all-time scoring leader, practiced with the Lakers on Monday and had no pain or soreness after his first game-style workout with the club since last season's playoffs.