The Los Angeles Lakers may very well be getting reinforcements to their lineup quickly. Lakers coach JJ Redick informed reporters forward of their recreation in opposition to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday that the timeline for LeBron James (sciatica) to return to the ground is both the second or third week of November, whereas Luka Dončić (finger sprain/leg contusion) may return within the “subsequent couple of video games.”
Dončić seems to be on observe to return ahead of the timeline Redick gave as he was upgraded to possible on the staff’s newest damage report, placing him on observe to return on Friday in opposition to the Memphis Grizzlies.
James, who’s coming into his twenty third season within the league, hasn’t performed this season. The Lakers initially introduced on Oct. 9 that James can be out a minimum of 3-4 weeks due to the nerve irritation in his glute that precipitated him to overlook the whole NBA preseason. Nonetheless, his timeline to return to the lineup seems to be longer than that.
Lakers’ Austin Reaves is cementing himself as Luka Dončić’s long-term co-star together with his historic begin
Sam Quinn
If James is out till the second or third week of November, it means James would miss a minimum of the primary 10 video games of the season. The Lakers have a five-game highway journey beginning in Atlanta in opposition to the Hawks on Nov. 8 and do not play again in Los Angeles till Nov. 18 in opposition to the Utah Jazz. That recreation in opposition to the Hawks can be L.A.’s tenth recreation of the season.
As for Dončić, the Lakers star obtained off to an unimaginable begin to the 2025-26 season earlier than being sidelined. Dončić completed with 43 factors, 12 rebounds and 9 assists within the Lakers’ first recreation of the season in opposition to the Golden State Warriors and adopted it up with one other near-triple double (49 factors, 11 rebounds and eight assists).
Regardless of James not taking part in in any respect to start out the season and Dončić lacking the final three video games, the Lakers are off to a 3-2 begin. Austin Reaves has scored a minimum of 25 factors in every of his staff’s first 5 video games — which features a 51-point outburst in opposition to the Sacramento Kings final weekend. Reaves additionally completed with 41 factors within the Lakers’ loss to the Portland Path Blazers earlier this week and hit the game-winner on Wednesday in opposition to Minnesota.
