The six-month break was not noticeable in LeBron James’ historic season debut. He was the first professional in the history of the NBA to start the 23rd season of his career – and, on top of that, won with the Los Angeles Lakers against the Utah Jazz 140:126.
“The pace tested me but I was happy with how I kept up with the boys”James was quoted as saying by the AP news agency. As the game progressed, his condition got better and better. “It was the first game in almost seven months, so everything that happened tonight was expected”he added.
The 40-year-old superstar immediately posted double-digit scores again with eleven points and twelve assists. “He was outstanding for a first game. He will get into the rhythm and help us a lot”Luka Doncic praised his teammate, who he looked up to as a little boy.
New record – normality for James
James played smart, didn’t force anything and, with his second three-pointer in the first half, climbed past Reggie Miller into sixth place on the list of the best three-point shooters in NBA history. Normality for the league’s top points scorer, who until this game in Los Angeles had shared the record for 22 seasons in the league with Vince Carter. Now James has him alone – and a little sooner than most observers expected after the difficult summer.
Sciatica was the reason for the long break. Sciatica pain in the lower back with effects on the legs – as millions of people know it in everyday life – had prevented James from making his season debut so far. He had already injured his knee at the end of last season. When these symptoms were over, the pain in his back slowed him down and prevented him from preparing properly.
An infant’s lungs
Last week he returned to team training, initially with the youth team. On Monday he was on the field for the first time with Doncic, Austin Reaves, Deandre Ayton and the other colleagues who are responsible for the Lakers’ strong start to the season. Ten wins and only four defeats were an excellent starting point for coach JJ Reddick’s team.
When James commented after training, the home game against Utah was conceivable, but the NBA superstar also said: “My lungs feel like those of an infant. This is the most important thing: I have to get my lungs back to the level of a full-grown man.” When asked if he was pain-free, he replied: “I wouldn’t go that far.”
James had never missed a season opening game before, and he watched the home games in civilian clothes from the bench – like Maxi Kleber, who suffered an abdominal muscle injury shortly before the start of the season but is now fit for action again and was on the field in the final minutes against Utah. From the sidelines, James could see how well the Lakers’ new additions meshed with Doncic and Reaves on the court without him.
James reunited with his son
“I didn’t miss traveling, but I did miss being on the field with the boys.”he said. He isn’t worried about being able to integrate into the team. “It’s a bit like a child moving to a new school. They have great chemistry and I have to fit in, in a natural way. It shouldn’t be too difficult, but it will be a process of getting used to each other.”
However, a player with the name James on his back wasn’t entirely new for the new additions of Ayton and Marcus Smart – Bronny James, the superstar’s eldest son, had already been in the Lakers’ starting lineup several times. Against Utah, he also came onto the field in the final minutes and hit a three-pointer.