After the months-long wait for a new season ended for hoop fans, the fans of LeBron James had to wait some more to see their favorite player back on the court. James was dealing with a sciatic nerve issue, and the team decided to deal with it cautiously.
When James stepped on the court against the Jazz, he immediately went to work and posted a double-double with 11 points and 12 assists in 30 minutes. However, tonight, when he laced up for his second game of the season, fans noticed his conditioning still wasn’t up to par.
Fans felt that his timing was off; he wasn’t reading plays as well as he usually does, and his movement seemed stiff. Social media didn’t take long to call out the 40-year-old for being underprepared for the season.
Some fans pointed out how uneasy he looked, while others hoped for better days ahead as King James is only getting started.
“He tired asf,” a fan wrote.
He tired asf
— Walkemdown30 (@30Walkemdown30) November 24, 2025
“lebron bro what are you doing out there,” a fan wrote.
“Lebron struggling to get in shape. Hopefully he ramps up quickly,” a fan wrote.
“LeBron look so tired lmao you can tell as good as he’s playing he ain’t got his wind yet. Old a** ctfu,” a fan wrote.
“LeBron’s timing is clearly off. It’s expected when you haven’t played NBA basketball for 7 straight months. All you can do is play through it. He’ll clean it up and it’ll look better the more on court reps he gets. Essentially, this is preseason right now for LeBron,” one fan provided a better analysis of James’ situation.
The fans aren’t entirely wrong in their assessment. James looks like someone who’s trying to be game-ready with each day. During his time off, he wasn’t doing full practice drills, and his training was very limited.
For someone who has excelled on the floor for over two decades, it won’t take long for him to get back in the rhythm that makes him one of the best players of all time.
LeBron James on How the Season Has Been “Rough” for Him
When James stepped foot on the floor against the Jazz, he became the first player ever to play 23 consecutive NBA seasons. In the 22 long seasons he has played before, James never missed the beginning of a season.
It was almost a tradition for him and his fans, which goes way back, even before he made his name in the world of basketball. After the game, James talked about why sitting out while his teammates went to work was rough for him.
“It was just fun to be out there with the guys, man. It’s been rough mentally for me,” James said after the game, “this is the first time I’ve started a basketball season and not played since I’ve started playing basketball, like nine years old, I’ve never missed the beginning of a basketball season.”
At age 40, one can understand why he isn’t in his trademark element. However, writing him off just yet would be a big mistake.
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