Why Is Lakers' LeBron James Practicing with G League Team amid Injury Rehab?

LeBron James didn't join the Los Angeles Lakers for their road trip this week, but he's still getting work against high-level competition.

The injured James is practicing with the Lakers' G-League squad, the South Bay Lakers, this week, head coach J.J. Redick revealed on Monday.

The Lakers are off to a solid start to the season at 7-3 thanks to the strong play of Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, but eventually having James back on the court will give Los Angeles a complete team with its three stars leading the way.

James began dealing with nerve irritation in his glute in September, and the Lakers later revealed that he would miss the start of the season because of sciatica on his right side. ESPN's Shams Charania noted that James was targeting a mid-November return.

James was cleared for contact basketball activities on Nov. 6, but Charania reported that he would not join the Lakers for their road trip from Nov. 8 to Nov. 15, noting that practicing with the G League team was a possibility.

With James needing five-on-five work for the next step in his rehab, the South Bay Lakers were the best option. It also keeps him on track for his potential mid-November return to the court.

Some parts of James' game have regressed as he's gotten older, but he's maintained his durability in recent years. He played 71 games during the 2023-24 season and played 70 games last year, putting up 24.4 points, 8.2 assists and 7.8 rebounds.

Both James and the Lakers are hoping he can be on the court for most of the season again this year, but ensuring he's fully recovered from his injury is the top priority at this point.