The Los Angeles Lakers could possibly be getting reinforcements to their lineup quickly. Lakers coach JJ Redick instructed reporters forward of their recreation towards the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday that LeBron James (sciatica) has a timeline to return both the second or third week of November, whereas Luka Dončić (finger sprain/leg contusion) may return within the “subsequent couple of video games.”

James, who’s getting into his twenty third season within the league, hasn’t performed this season. The Lakers initially introduced on Oct. 9 that James can be out at the least 3-4 weeks due to the nerve irritation in his glute that prompted him to overlook your entire NBA preseason. Nonetheless, his timeline to return to the lineup seems to be longer than that.

If James is out till the second or third week of November, it means James would miss at the least the primary 10 video games of the season. The Lakers have a five-game street journey beginning in Atlanta towards the Hawks on Nov. 8 and do not play again in Los Angeles till Nov. 18 towards the Utah Jazz. That recreation towards the Hawks shall be L.A.’s tenth recreation of the season.

As for Dončić, the Lakers star acquired off to an unbelievable begin to the 2025-26 season earlier than being sidelined. Dončić completed with 43 factors, 12 rebounds and 9 assists within the Lakers’ first recreation of the season towards the Golden State Warriors and adopted it up with one other near-triple double (49 factors, 11 rebounds and eight assists).

Regardless of James not enjoying in any respect to start out the season and Dončić lacking the final two video games, the Lakers are off to a 2-2 begin. Lakers star Austin Reaves has scored at the least 25 factors in every of his group’s first 4 video games — which features a 51-point outburst towards the Sacramento Kings final weekend. Reaves additionally completed with 41 factors within the Lakers’ loss to the Portland Path Blazers earlier this week.