The Lakers are without 21-time All-NBA superstar power forward LeBron James, 40, who has been grappling with a sciatica injury since the middle of the summer. It's unclear when the four-time league MVP might return to the hardwood, although it's possible he'll get reassessed and given a fresh timeline as soon as next week.

Former 6-foot-5 Lakers guard reportedly leaving NBA, signing with German team originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. The NBA has become a global game over the past few years.

The NBA's return to NBC with a doubleheader on Tuesday night averaged 5.61 million viewers, marking the most-watched October opening night in 15 years.

With the Denver Nuggets and the Indiana Pacers playing in their first matchups of the 2025-2026 NBA season, every team is on the board with at least one game pl