LeBron James is back for the Los Angeles Lakers .

On Tuesday night, the superstar forward took the court to make his 2025-2026 season debut after a battle with a sciatic injury. Considering the return was historic, all eyes have been on LeBron since the moment he was upgraded to questionable on the eve of the matchup.

ESPN’s Dave McMenamin spoke to league sources regarding the difference LeBron James’ presence could make for a Lakers team that’s been off to a decent start, with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves having big performances. Gathering comments from league executives, one anonymous Western Conference exec didn’t hold back on the LA center, Deandre Ayton, suggesting that the circumstances might frustrate LeBron over time.

"I imagine Deandre's going to be a problem. He's just no

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