LeBron James completed a full Los Angeles Lakers practice on Monday for the first time this season after missing time with sciatica, a condition in which pain radiates from the lower back down the leg due to irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve. The 40-year-old, now in his 23rd NBA season, missed training camp and is aiming to make his season debut as the Lakers approach Game 15; Los Angeles is 10-4 and sits fourth in the Western Conference without him. James said, ‘My lungs feel like a newborn baby’s. That’s the most important thing, I’ve got to get my lungs back up to a grown man’s and my voice is already gone. One day back and barking out calls, I need to get my voice working again. There will be a lot of tea and rest tonight.’ He noted this is his second episode with sciatica: ‘I had it two years ago. If you’ve had it, then you know what it’s about. If you’ve never had it and people are making jokes about it, I pray you never get it. It’s not fun.’ James acknowledged how unusual and mentally trying it has been to miss the start of a season after never doing so in his career: he called it a ‘mind test’ but said he’s ‘built for it,’ and is putting in both mental and physical work to return. In September he also spoke candidly about the later stage of his career, saying he expects retirement ‘a lot sooner than later’ and reflecting that while age can be a number, it is also a reality — he wants to keep playing at a high level and to continue inspiring others. The Lakers will host the 5-8 Utah Jazz on Tuesday night.
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