LeBron James Returns to Court, Sets NBA Record with 23rd Season

LeBron James made his season debut for the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night, becoming the first player in NBA history to participate in 23 seasons. The 40-year-old forward had been sidelined due to sciatica, missing the team's first 14 games. James returned to the starting lineup against the Utah Jazz at Crypto.com Arena, receiving a warm ovation from the home crowd.

James had been dealing with sciatica on his right side, which kept him out of training camp and the early part of the season. He was cleared for contact basketball activities earlier this month and participated in practices with the Lakers' G League affiliate before rejoining the main team.

In his return game, James contributed 11 points and 12 assists, helping the Lakers secure a 140-125 victory over the Jazz. This performance extended his streak of scoring in double digits to 1,293 consecutive games.

Reflecting on his return, James acknowledged the challenge of regaining his conditioning after the layoff.

With this milestone, James surpasses Vince Carter, who previously held the record with 22 NBA seasons.

The Lakers, who had a 10-4 record in James's absence, are now looking forward to building momentum with their veteran leader back on the court.