LOS ANGELES — Lakers star LeBron James made his season debut in a 140-126 win over the Utah Jazz on Tuesday night, taking the court to begin a league-record 23rd season.
James had 11 points, 12 assists and 3 rebounds in 30 minutes as the Lakers scored a season high in points. He made a driving layup in the third quarter to extend his streak of double-digit scoring performances to a record 1,293 games — every game in which he has played since Jan. 6, 2007.
“Just thought he played with the right spirit. Very unselfish all night. Was a willing passer, didn’t force it, took his drives and his shots when they were there,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “The defense is going to pay attention to him, particularly when he has the ball in the post, particularly when he’s putting pressure on the rim, and I just thought he made a lot of great decisions tonight. Really good to have him back.”
The 40-year-old James was sidelined for the first 14 games of the season because of sciatica, a nerve issue that affected his lower back and down the right side of his body.
“It was just fun to be out there with the guys, man,” James said. “It’s been rough mentally for me. This is the first time I’ve started a basketball season and not played since I’ve started playing basketball, like 9 years old, I’ve never missed the beginning of a basketball season.”
With his start against the Jazz, he became the first NBA player in history to play in 23 seasons, breaking a tie with Vince Carter.
James didn’t take long to find his rhythm, putting on a playmaking clinic in the second half as the Lakers pulled away.
“He does things that other people can’t. He’s here to help us all,” said Luka Doncic, who scored 37 points — including 17 in the third quarter — to go along with 10 assists.
James recorded eight assists in the second half, including six in just over three minutes early in the fourth quarter.
“After the game, just waiting on the guys to get back in the locker room — I think the word we were using as a coaching staff was our poise as a group,” Redick said. “Not overreacting, not pulling apart, problem solving, all that stuff in real time, and just continuing to play. And that at times was missing last year.”
James returned to practice with the Lakers on Monday, joining his teammates for his first 5-on-5 action with them since Los Angeles’ first-round playoff exit against the Minnesota Timberwolves in April.
James’ return came after a rehabilitation assignment with the G League’s South Bay Lakers last week while Los Angeles was on a five-game trip and getting through back-to-back days of practice without experiencing any lingering soreness or pain.
“The pace tested me, but I was happy with the way I was able to go with the guys,” James said. “As the game went on, my wind got a lot better. Caught my second wind, caught my third wind. Rhythm is still coming back, obviously. First game in almost seven months, so everything that happened tonight was to be expected.”
James, already the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, entered Tuesday 50 games behind Boston Celtics great Robert Parish for the all-time lead in games played and is now 496 assists behind Jason Kidd for No. 3 on the all-time list.
Deandre Ayton was visibly impressed by James’ passing during his first chance to play in a game alongside his new teammate. The Lakers’ new center noted that the alley-oop pass he threw down for a dunk was actually the second lob he had ever received from James; the first was at James’ basketball camp in Las Vegas when Ayton, a future No. 1 pick, was in the eighth grade.
James didn’t score in his first 11 minutes on the court, but his two 3-pointers in the first half moved him past Indiana Pacers sharpshooter Reggie Miller into No. 6 on the all-time list.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.