Basketball legend LeBron James made a triumphant return to the court on Tuesday night, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a decisive 140-125 victory over the Utah Jazz. The 'King' had been sidelined for the team's first 14 games of the season due to a painful bout of sciatica.
A Historic Night for the Veteran
By stepping onto the Crypto.com Arena floor, James set a new NBA record for the most seasons played, marking his 23rd campaign and officially surpassing the previous record held by Vince Carter. This wasn't the only milestone of the evening; the 40-year-old superstar also climbed to sixth place on the NBA's all-time 3-pointers list, moving past the legendary Reggie Miller.
While it may not have been a vintage LeBron performance, which is understandable after his recent injury layoff, the four-time champion still delivered a solid stat line of 11 points, 12 assists, and three rebounds. His presence on the court was a clear catalyst for the team's high-scoring success.
The Road to Recovery and a Warm Welcome
James, who had never before missed a season opener in his storied career, only returned to contact basketball activity last week. He participated in his first full Lakers practice of the new season just one day before the game. About half an hour before tipoff, the team confirmed he would start, which marked his 1,561st start in 1,563 regular-season games.
The home crowd gave him a roaring ovation when he was announced first in the starting lineup, a testament to his enduring popularity. James had admitted on Monday that his body wasn't in ideal game shape, but his eagerness to begin chasing another milestone in a career filled with them was palpable.
Context and Career Legacy
With this season's debut, James is now just 48 games behind Robert Parish's NBA record for regular-season games played (1,611). He already holds the combined record for most regular-season and playoff games (1,855) and the record for most total minutes played.
His recent offseason was plagued by injury, requiring two months of recovery after he sprained a knee ligament during the Lakers' first-round playoff loss to Minnesota. This was followed by the sciatica that caused nerve pain down his legs. James has been non-committal about his future, stating he hasn't decided if this season will be his last.
His career, which began with the Cleveland Cavaliers in October 2003, is decorated with unparalleled achievements. He is a four-time NBA champion and Finals MVP, a four-time league MVP, and has 21 All-Star selections. In February 2023, he became the top scorer in NBA history, and last March, he became the first player ever to amass 50,000 total points across regular season and playoff games.
