EL SEGUNDO — The Lakers welcomed back a familiar face on Monday.

LeBron James practiced with the team for the first time after being sidelined for the last 1½ months because of sciatica on his right side, taking another significant step in his return-to-play process with his season debut imminent.

“My lungs feel like a newborn baby, that’s the most important thing,” a hoarse-voiced James said in his first media availability since the team’s preseason media day on Sept. 29. “I got to get my lungs back up to a grown man. My voice is already gone. One day back, barking out calls and assignments and stuff, getting my voice working again. Be a lot of tea and rest [Monday night].”

Coach JJ Redick said it hadn’t been determined as of Monday afternoon whether James, who will begin an unprecede

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