LeBron James practiced with the South Bay Lakers again Thursday without any lingering pain from Wednesday's session, sources told ESPN's Dave McMenamin, marking an encouraging sign for the veteran forward's return from sciatica.

The 40-year-old participated in full five-on-five action with the Lakers' G League affiliate as he continues ramping up activity ahead of his season debut.

LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) on X LeBron hints his return on IG ⏳👀

The development comes as the Lakers (8-4) prepare to face the New Orleans Pelicans (2-9) on Friday night at Smoothie King Center, a game James will miss as he continues his rehabilitation process.

This marks the 12th consecutive game James has sat out to start the 2025-26 season while dealing with nerve irritation on his right side that has bothered him since the late summer.

Return Timeline Taking Shape

James is targeting games next week for his potential return to the Lakers' lineup, with Tuesday's home matchup against the Utah Jazz on November 18 emerging as the most realistic target date.

The Lakers complete their five-game road trip with contests against New Orleans on Friday and Milwaukee on Saturday before returning to Crypto.com Arena for back-to-back games against the Jazz on Tuesday and Thursday.

Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) on X LeBron James is expected to practice with the South Bay Lakers this week as he ramps up for his return, per @Khobi_Price

Head coach JJ Redick provided an update on Thursday, noting that James "looked good" and was "moving well" during his practice session with South Bay, logging 12-15 possessions of live five-on-five contact after progressing to halfcourt work earlier in the week.

Lakers Thriving Without Their Superstar

Despite James' absence, the Lakers have exceeded expectations through the season's first month.

Los Angeles sits fifth in the Western Conference standings and has been carried by the incredible play of Luka Dončić, who leads the NBA in scoring at 34.9 points per game while also contributing 9.1 rebounds and 8.9 assists per game as well.

Lakers Lead (@LakersLead) on X Austin Reaves is PLEADING for Luka and LeBron to return 💀

Austin Reaves has also stepped up significantly in James' absence, averaging 28.3 points and 8.3 assists per game.

The 27-year-old guard has filled the offensive void incredibly well, though his usage is expected to decrease once James returns to full strength.

Impact of James' Return

When James does make his long-awaited debut, his return will provide the Lakers with their most complete roster of the season.

The four-time NBA champion and all-time leading scorer still brings elite playmaking, veteran leadership, and scoring ability that should seamlessly complement Dončić's offensive firepower while easing the burden on Reaves.

NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) on X "We're in the timing now where we can be looking at the schedule next week and say, 'Hey, that could be the game where we see LeBron James making his season debut.'" @mcten shares an update with @malika_andrews on LeBron's potential regular season start with the Lakers.

James' ability to facilitate and create for others will be particularly valuable in helping the Lakers' offense reach another level.

His court vision and basketball IQ remain among the best in the league, even in his 23rd professional season, and his presence should help the Lakers stabilize their rotation after navigating through various injuries early in the campaign.

The Lakers' upcoming schedule provides an ideal opportunity for James to work his way back into game shape, with matchups against Utah and several other opponents that should allow for a cautious approach to his minutes as he finds his rhythm alongside his teammates.