LeBron James stepped onto the Crypto.com Arena court about an hour before the Lakers were getting ready to play the Utah Jazz to start his pre-game routine, the buzz building from his every movement, everyone anticipating him playing in his first game of the season.
And so it began for James, the start of his NBA-record 23rd season, the right sciatica that kept him out of the first 14 Lakers games no longer holding him back.
James put on a show in the form of his dazzling passes to open teammates that pushed the Lakers to a 140-125 win over the Jazz on Tuesday night.