Overview
- James participated in full-team, five-on-five work Monday, his first practice with the Lakers this season after missing training camp, preseason and 14 games.
- He will decide on playing against the Jazz after seeing how his body responds over the next 24-plus hours, with coach JJ Redick calling his status TBD.
- James said he is not fully pain-free from sciatica and noted his conditioning still needs work after his first session back.
- The forward ramped up last week by practicing with the G League’s South Bay Lakers, his first five-on-five action since the spring.
- Los Angeles is 10-4 and fourth in the West, and James’ eventual return would make him the first player to appear in 23 NBA seasons.