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The Los Angeles Lakers are officially 7-2 after Wednesday night’s 118-116 win over the San Antonio Spurs, currently holding the second seed in the Western Conference — all without LeBron James.
As Los Angeles has been patiently awaiting the return of James to their lineup as he deals with sciatica on the right side of his back, ESPN’s Shams Charania broke some exciting news that could make the Lakers even stronger than they are now.
Lakers' LeBron James has officially been cleared for contact basketball activities and will be re-evaluated in one to two weeks. Next step, ramping up to 5-on-5 action. https://t.co/jAUEPz7X3B
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 6, 2025“Lakers' LeBron James has officially been cleared for contact basketball activities and will be re-evaluated in one to two weeks. Next step, ramping up to 5-on-5 action.”
This is a huge step in the right direction for a Lakers team that has already reached high levels of success without James in their lineup. In fact, their 7-2 start marks the best record a team has recorded over a nine-game span without James on the court. As it stands, James won’t travel with the team on their upcoming five-game road trip, as he looks to use the next few days to rehab his injury in the Lakers’ facilities. The organization continues to emphasize patience and long-term health, rather than rushing him back for short-term results.
NBA fans should be intrigued by how effective James can potentially be in Los Angeles’ lineup once he returns. The team currently has the 11th-ranked best offense and leads the league in field-goal percentage, all while maintaining one of the most balanced scoring attacks in basketball. Austin Reaves still leads his team in points and assists, Deandre Ayton in rebounds and blocks, while Marcus Smart is averaging a team-high 1.7 steals. If that wasn’t efficient enough, Luka Doncic is averaging 40.0 points across five games, including 11.0 rebounds and 9.2 assists on 50% field-goal shooting.
Los Angeles has reached success through James’s absence simply because the offense isn’t ran through one player in particular. Six players have recorded 25+ points across two games, JJ Redick is being more vocally involved, and hidden stars on the roster have stepped up under the brightest lights the NBA can offer. The chemistry and confidence this group is building could make James’s eventual return even more dangerous for opposing teams.
Whether James will add value to this team is a question no fan has ever asked themselves before — and it could just be the answer they might receive sooner than later.
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