Los Angeles Lakers star forward LeBron James, who has yet to play in season 23 of his storied NBA career, appears to be making progress in his return to action. 

According to ESPN NBA Insider Shams Charania, James is now able to participate in contact basketball activities, and the Lakers will have another update on his health in one to two weeks when he is next re-evaluated. 

“LeBron James has been working out individually and I’m told the next step for him is five-on-five live play,” Charania said in an interview with Malika Andrews on NBA Today.

“And he will not be traveling on the Lakers’ upcoming five-game, week-long road trip that starts in Atlanta this weekend. So it’s unclear whether he’s going to be able to get that live action while the team is on the road – potentially doing it with the G-league South Bay team, or do the Lakers and LeBron wait for the team to get back on Nov. 16 and then the live play process can begin then.”

Positive movement in James’ injury journey comes at a pivotal time for the Lakers, who have had to lean on their depth earlier than many likely expected just three weeks into the 2025-26 regular season. 

Not having a four-time NBA champion and four-time MVP in James out on the floor has posed an early test for Los Angeles, but in many ways, him being unavailable has shown the Lakers just what type of contributions can come from up and down their roster when needed. 

And the Lakers sure have needed those contributions. 

Luka Dončić has only played in five of the Lakers nine games, Austin Reaves has missed two games and Gabe Vincent has been out with an injury since game four of the season. 

With lineup inconsistency, players beyond the Lakers’ stars like DeAndre Ayton, Rui Hachimura, Jake LaRavia, Marcus Smart and even Nick Smith Jr. have had to pull their weight over this first stretch of the season. 

But, with James trending toward rejoining his squad out on the hardwood, a lot of that load will be lifted off the shoulders of those players who have had to carry the Lakers as of late with an undermanned roster. 

This five-game stint on the road may very well just end up being one of the more important stretches of the entire season, because if the Lakers, who currently sit at 7-2, can return to Crypto.com Arena with a 10-4 or 11-3 overall record, having weathered such a significant early-season test, all before they get their future Hall-of-Famer in James back, then this team may just be the real deal with regard to championship aspirations.