The Los Angeles Lakers are currently 8-3 heading into their matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night, having managed to stack wins without superstar forward LeBron James, who's missed the first 11 games of the season due to a sciatic issue.
While James is set to miss the remainder of the Lakers' current road trip - which has them preparing for the third of five games before returning home - there's positive news on his recovery. James was recently assigned to the Lakers' G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, to participate in his first full 5-on-5 practice, signaling strong progress toward his anticipated mid-November return, potentially as early as next week.
Also on Wednesday, during ESPN's “First Take,” Stephen A. Smith, whose relationship with James has been strained since a brief altercation last season, made a bold admission about the four-time MVP, calling him the most intriguing storyline in the NBA right now.
"This is very interesting… LeBron James is the most interesting and compelling story in the NBA right now because of this reason: the Lakers are winning without him," Smith said. "Luka Doncic is a leading candidate for league MVP honors without him. Austin Reaves is averaging 30 without him, and the Lakers are winning without him.”
Smith also added what could unfold if James fully buys in upon his return, noting that the Lakers' ceiling in the Western Conference could be sky-high if everything clicks the right way.
"When you come back, we know what a basketball savant LeBron James is - we all know that. But because of Austin Reaves, he ain't gonna affect Luka, because Luka is going to do what Luka does,” Smith added. “How LeBron James plays is going to determine, in large part, the success of Austin Reaves moving forward.
“So can he fit in, fit out - what you gonna do, how you gonna do it? Because if he does it right, the Lakers, at the very least, could end up in the conference finals against Oklahoma City. That's how significant LeBron James' return could be for the Lakers."
When James steps on the court for the first time this season, it will mark his 23rd year in the NBA, making him the longest-tenured player in league history.
He'll turn 41 in December, and while there's still no firm timeline for how much longer he plans to play, his legacy as one of the greatest players in basketball history is already well cemented.
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