LeBron James (Image Credits: Imagn)

The Los Angeles Lakers are off to a hot start this season despite missing the services of LeBron James. Out with a sciatica injury, this is the first time in LeBron’s career that he has not played in the league’s opening week.

With Luka Doncic out for at least a week and Gabe Vincent adding to their injury woes, there’s growing worry among their fans about the team’s depth. Sure, Austin Reaves has emerged as a star, but he can’t do it all. That’s why they are anxious about when James will suit up this season. A new report from Dave McMenamin has shed light on the approximate time of return for the four-time champion. Spoiler alert: it’s still a bit far away.

“I’m told that we’re still in the range of about three more weeks before he would be targeting a return sometime in mid-November. I have been told by multiple sources over the last several days that his rehab and all of the process to get back to that return date are moving in the right direction,” per McMenamin on ESPN 2.

If we look at previous reports, that’s around the time the team stated in previous weeks. At 40 years old, the Lakers are being smart for not rushing James to get back on the court. They understand that he’s no longer a youngster who can play through injuries.

Is LeBron James Faking His Injury Due To Another Motive?

LeBron James (Image Credits: Imagn)
As bizarre as it is, several nasty rumors began to spread when the Lakers announced LBJ’s injury a few weeks ago. Some even went so far as to say that LeBron faked his sciatica injury to force his way out of LA.

With his growing age and injuries, the team has now focused on rebuilding around Luka Doncic. Still, there aren’t a lot of teams that have the luxury to trade for LBJ’s services. Plus, seeing James vibe with Reaves and Doncic should deter anybody from making another speculation about his future.

Luka Doncic ‘destroys’ the Mavs on his return. Gets standing ovation and shows love to Mark Cuban

Luka Doncic hits 45 points in his first game in Dallas since being traded to the Los Angeles.

It’s rare for a home crowd to cheer the visiting team, but Luka Doncic’s return to Dallas was no ordinary night.

Just days before February’s trade deadline, the Mavericks shocked the NBA by sending their 26-year-old superstar to the Lakers—a move that outraged fans and sparked backlash toward GM Nico Harrison.

On Wednesday, Doncic played his first game back in Dallas since the trade. The arena was filled with fans in both his old Mavs and new Lakers jerseys, many chanting “Fire Nico” in protest.

Despite the emotion in the air, Doncic delivered a dominant performance, scoring a game-high 45 points to lead the Lakers to a 112-97 win. It was a powerful return for one of the league’s brightest stars—and a night Dallas won’t soon forget

The Mavericks pay tribute to Luka Dončić

While the Mavericks’ decision to trade Luka Doncic remains heavily criticized, they handled his return to Dallas with undeniable grace. The organization made sure his first game back as a Laker was met with respect and appreciation.

Every seat in the arena was draped with a T-shirt reading “Hvala za vse,” which translates from Slovenian to “thank you for everything.” It was a thoughtful nod to Doncic’s heritage and impact on the franchise.

Before tip-off, during the starting lineup announcements, the Mavericks played a tribute video showcasing some of Doncic’s most iconic moments in a Dallas jersey. The emotional gesture clearly resonated—moving Doncic to tears in front of the crowd that once called him their own.

Luka Doncic ‘DESTROYS’ his old team

Luka delivered a dazzling performance against his former team, putting up 45 points on 16-of-28 shooting, including 7-of-10 from beyond the arc. He also added 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals in a game that showed exactly why he’s one of the best in the league.

From the opening tip, Doncic was locked in. By halftime, Doncic had racked up 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting in just 19 minutes—marking the 10th time in his career he’s scored 30 or more in a single half.

Though his scoring slowed in the second half, he continued to lead effectively, securing both a Lakers win and an unforgettable showing for the fans in Dallas.