Almost back in the picture

Adjusting after a long layoff, James is close to his Lakers season debut

- BY BRODERICK TURNER

AUSTIN REAVES (15) and the Lakers have gone 10-4 without James as Reaves is averaging 28.3 points per game.

(JESSIE ALCHEH Associated Press)

LeBron James said his lungs felt like those of a “newborn baby” and his voice was “already gone” after his first Lakers practice Monday as he moved a step closer toward making his season debut after being sidelined by sciatica.

James didn’t fully commit to playing Tuesday night against the Utah Jazz at Crypto.com Arena. But James sounded as if he was close to playing in his NBA-record 23rd season.

“We got a long time,” said James as he wiped sweat from his face while speaking to reporters. “I mean, we've been taking literally one minute, one hour, one step at a time throughout this whole process. So, see how I feel this afternoon, see how I feel tonight. When I wake up in the morning... We will probably have [a] shootaround [Tuesday]. So, just gotta see how the body responds over the next 24 hours-plus.”

James, who will turn 41 next month, was asked how long it took him to become pain-free.