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Lakers' leader passes first test
Los Angeles Times
|November 20, 2025
James makes his season debut and delivers a game-high 12 assists to help rally L.A. past Utah.
Photographs by GINA FERAZZI Los Angeles Times
THE LAKERS' LeBron James hugs Austin Reaves on a feel-good Tuesday night when James made highlight-reel passes as he began his 23rd NBA season.
LeBron James stepped onto the Crypto.com Arena court about an hour before the Lakers started getting ready to play the Utah Jazz to begin his pregame routine, the buzz building from his every movement, everyone anticipating him making his season debut.
And so it began for James, the start of his NBA-record 23rd season, the sciatica that kept him out of the Lakers' first 14 games no longer holding him back.
James put on a show in the form of his dazzling passes to open teammates that pushed the Lakers to a 140-126 win over the Jazz on Tuesday night.
He was flashy with many of his 12 assists to go along with 11 points. He was four for seven from the field and two for three from three-point range in 29 minutes 37 seconds of action.
James departed for good with 6:39 left and the Lakers leading by 19 points. Luka Doncic was a force with 37 points, 10 assists and five rebounds while Austin Reaves (26 points) and Deandre Ayton (20 points and 14 rebounds) were on top of their games again.
This story is from the November 20, 2025 edition of Los Angeles Times.
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