Lakers Notes: LeBron James Return Timeline Revealed, Unfortunate Trade Update, Luka Doncic Prediction

Oct 5, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23), wearing a Los Angeles Dodgers hat, watches from the sideline during a break against the Golden State Warriors in the third quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images | David Gonzales-Imagn Images

LeBron James is set to miss time at the start of the Los Angeles Lakers' season, and ESPN's Shams Charania revealed when the superstar may return.

"I'm told that the Lakers and LeBron are looking at around mid-November as a realistic debut for him," Charania said. "So, October 30th would be the earliest that the Lakers would be officially reevaluating LeBron James, but it is expected that he will need at least a few weeks after that point."

Despite whispers of a trade to make up for the lack of James, The Athletic's Dan Woike doesn't believe there will be a move despite the Lakers' worrying lack of depth in the frontcourt.

ESPN's Eric Karabell made a prediction for Luka Doncic in his first full season with the Lakers, believing the guard will average 31.5 points per game and lead the NBA in scoring.

Doncic will be the Lakers' undisputed first option with James out for the next few weeks, and could take the reins with a dominant stretch through the first few weeks.

Here’s more information on these stories and all the latest Lakers news (click the headline for the full article):

Lakers' Luka Doncic Receives Major Scoring Prediction Ahead of New Season

Lakers Insider Questions Team’s Ability to Pull Off Major Trade

Lakers Forward Gets Brutally Honest About Life Without Injured LeBron James

LeBron James' Timeline to Return to Lakers Finally Revealed

Lakers Tweets of the Day:

Palm trees & hoop dreams: Los Angeles Lakers. pic.twitter.com/zQIka8xWxm

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) October 16, 2025

I have never seen Jaxson Hayes take or make a shot like this before. Lol.

Put Lively in a Spin Cycle then went Lefty. pic.twitter.com/rm5gOzZiPT

— Lakers Legacy (@LakersLegacyPod) October 16, 2025

The amount of disrespect on this poster is crazy 😭😭pic.twitter.com/08BuJRcwJH https://t.co/hb0OmuVlqf

— Lyth ♠️ (@Lytherian) October 16, 2025

If Nick Smith jr can stay consistent like this he might just be a key piece in our bench rotation pic.twitter.com/PxPejyOp4H

— Toxic ☣️ (@ToxicLakers) October 16, 2025

For more news and notes on the Los Angeles Lakers, visit Los Angeles Lakers on SI.