The Lakers will take a slow and steady approach to LeBron James’s return to the court.
Shams Charania of ESPN reported on Wednesday that the Lakers see mid-November as a realistic possibility for LeBron to make his season debut.
That timeline makes sense given that the Lakers will reevaluate LeBron at the end of October at the earliest. It was always unlikely that he would go from his reevaluation to playing immediately after.
That would be pushing things and reckless for a player entering his 23rd season who just took months to get his body right.
When LeBron returns, the hope is that he’s back for good. The best way to put him in that type of position is to take your time bringing him back.
While this return timeline is new, the Lakers’ carefulness regarding LeBron’s injury is not.
On the first day of training camp, head coach JJ Redick said the team would be “overly cautious” with James and their actions have matched their words.
It’s unfortunate that LeBron is hurt and will likely be missing over 10 games to start the year. However, he’s needed for the long run and if you’re injured, you must sit.
The Lakers have big goals, and they need LeBron healthy and ready to play heavy minutes in the winter, spring and summer to accomplish them. Missing LeBron for parts of the fall, in the grand scheme of things, isn’t so bad.
Still, playing without LeBron, who is, at worst, your second-best player, will hurt Los Angeles, but they still have Luka Dončić and he’s pretty good.
This is his team now, even when LeBron is available. So with him out, he really has to step up and dominate.
If Luka can keep the Lakers afloat, then when LeBron returns, they’ll be fully healthy and ready to take on the rest of the Western Conference together.