Lakers adjust while getting lift from James

(Lakers, from B10]

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LeBRON JAMES, left, said he likes the contributions from depth players such as Bronny James, second from left, and Jake LaRavia, right, during L.A.'s 10-4 start.

(JESSIE ALCHEH Associated Press)

Lakers to a 10-4 record. With LeBron James officially back on the Lakers’ practice court, he could make this three areal party.

“I'm a baliplayer,” James said Monday after his first full practice with the team this year. “... There's not one team, not one club in the world that I cannot fit in and play for. I can do everything on the floor. So whatever this team needs me to do, I can do it when I’m back to myself.”

Despite the encouraging start that has the team fourth in the West, the Lakers are not modern basketball’s statistical darling. They play slowly (19th in pace), take the fourthfewest three-pointers in the league while making the second-worst percentage and have the third-most turnovers per game. James, who still stopped short of saying he is pain-free from right sciatica, is unlikely to be an immediate solution to any of those problems.

‘Yet he is the NBA's all-time leading scorer.

“It’s LeBron,” Reaves said. “Just his presence and his ability is going to lift the team.”

The team joked during the film session that it got a new player Monday. James introduced himself to his teammates. Reaves and Doncic have become the favorite “bromance” of some niche NBA social media circles, and the Lakers’ chemistry was one of the key talking points from its earlyseason success.

Players joke on the bench, trash talk each other in Instagram comments and Doncic’s post-practice half-court shooting competition has expanded to include at least three other teammates.