LeBron James Makes Debut with Luka Doncic's Lakers

LeBron James returned to the court with a victory. The Los Angeles Lakers player made his debut in the 140-126 win against the Utah Jazz, marking his 23rd season in the NBA, an unprecedented record in league history. In his comeback, he recorded 11 points, 12 assists, and 3 rebounds in 30 minutes, helping his team achieve its highest score of the season. Additionally, a drive to the basket in the third quarter extended his streak to 1,293 consecutive games with at least ten points, a run he has maintained since January 6, 2007.

Coach JJ Redick highlighted LeBron James's approach to his comeback: “I think he played with the right attitude. He was very generous all night. He passed the ball when he needed to, didn't force it, attacked and shot when appropriate,” he stated. He added that “defenses will always be on him, especially when he posts up or attacks the basket. He made many good decisions tonight. It's really good to have him back.”

James, 40, missed the first 14 games due to a sciatica affecting his lower back and right side. He acknowledged that the process was challenging: “It was just fun to be out there with the guys,” he commented. “It's been tough mentally for me: it's the first time I've started a season without playing since I started playing basketball at nine years old. I had never missed the start of a season before.”

With his presence against Utah, he officially became the first player in the NBA to reach 23 seasons, surpassing the tie he had with Vince Carter. Following the break, he regained his feelings and directed the team clearly in offensive play.

Luka Doncic, who scored 37 points and 10 assists, acknowledged his impact: “He does things others can't. He's here to help us all.”

James distributed eight assists in the second half, including six in just over three minutes at the start of the final quarter. After the game, Redick emphasized the group's maturity: “As we waited for the players to return to the locker room, the word we repeated most in the coaching staff was 'calm'. Not overreacting, staying united, solving problems in real time, and keep playing. Sometimes last year, that was missing.”

Start of an Unusual Season

The previous Monday, he completed his first five-on-five session since the first-round elimination against Minnesota in April. His return came after a brief stint with the South Bay Lakers in the G League and several days of pain-free training.

James described how he felt physically: “The pace tested me, but I was satisfied with how I could keep up with the team. As the game progressed, my conditioning improved significantly. I found a second and a third wind. The pace is still coming back, obviously. First game in almost seven months, so what happened tonight was to be expected.”

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