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As Friday Night SmackDown goes live from the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, a surprising development is unfolding behind the scenes—multiple top NXT stars are backstage.

According to PWInsider Elite, NXT stars Oba Femi, Trick Williams, and Sol Ruca have all been spotted backstage ahead of the December 5 show. While their exact role tonight hasnâ€t been confirmed, the timing is hard to ignore.

Cena recently announced that Saturday Nightâ€s Main Event on December 13—his retirement match—would also feature NXT talent vs. main roster stars, hinting that his final chapter might double as a platform for the next generation. Tonightâ€s SmackDown may lay the groundwork for that.

Lineup for WWE SmackDown on December 5, 2025:

• Last Time Is Now Tournament Final: GUNTHER vs. LA Knight
• United States Title Open Challenge: Ilja Dragunov (c) vs. ???
• Non-Title Match: Jade Cargill vs. Alba Fyre
• Alexa Bliss vs. Kairi Sane
• Cody Rhodes appears
• Solo Sikoa addresses the Wyatt Sicks attack

Are you hoping to see NXT stars face off against Cena and other main roster legends on December 13? Drop your dream match ideas or predictions in the comments below—weâ€d love to hear who you think should step up next.

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Of course.

Stuck between trying to extend his record streak of 1,297 consecutive games with 10 or more points or passing to an open Rui Hachimura to take the potential winning shot, LeBron James made the right play.

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Because thatâ€s what heâ€s done for 23 years in the NBA.

James†assist on Hachimuraâ€s buzzer-beating three-pointer punctuated the Lakers†dramatic 123-120 win over the Toronto Raptors on Thursday at Scotiabank Arena.

After the Lakers (16-5) forced a miss by Brandon Ingram with 22.9 seconds left, Austin Reaves heard Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic calling for a double team. Scottie Barnes rushed to guard Reaves near the sideline and the Lakers guard sent a left-handed bounce pass to James near the top of the arc. James, with eight points on labored four-for-17 shooting, took one dribble and fired it to Hachimura in the corner.

“I just make the right play,†James said. “That’s all that matters. Win, lose or draw, make the right play.â€

James†11 assists and Reaves†44 points and 10 assists helped the Lakers overcome the absence of Luka Doncic, who missed the game because of personal reasons. The NBAâ€s leading scorer and his fiancee are expecting their second child. Coach JJ Redick said the team hopes to get Doncic “back soon, but donâ€t have a pinpointed day yet.â€

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Without the teamâ€s primary offensive engine, center Deandre Ayton chipped in 17 points and Jake LaRavia scored 14 off the bench. Two-way guard Nick Smith Jr. delivered 12 points in 14 minutes off the bench as the Lakers dug deep into their roster ahead of another game in Boston on Friday.

James last scored in single digits on Jan. 5, 2007 when Milwaukee held him to eight points on three-for-13 shooting in 43 minutes. But Cleveland still won that game 95-86 as James dished nine assists.

At 40, James has continued to rely on his playmaking, averaging 7.8 assists in six games since missing the first 14 because of sciatica. James acknowledged he still is finding his rhythm offensively.

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He faded into the background of the Lakers’ blowout loss to the Phoenix Suns on Monday, when he barely extended the streak by scoring four of his 10 points in the fourth quarter. He came out aggressively against the Raptors with nine shots by halftime.

But he scored only four points. He missed his first six shots, some even missing the rim.

Behind 22 third-quarter points from Reaves, the Lakers were clinging to a two-point lead entering the fourth. James was “acutely aware†of how many points he had as the game progressed, Redick said. With only six points in the first three quarters, James opened the fourth with two quick three-point attempts. Neither was close to going in.

Lakers guard Austin Reaves, left, drives against Toronto guard Ja’Kobe Walter during the first half of the Lakers’ win Thursday. (Andrew Lahodynskyj / Getty Images)

The first Lakers points in the fourth quarter came from Smith. Of course, he was assisted by James.

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Throughout his celebrated career, James often has been criticized for his passing. In big moments, critics questioned whether he could be the true face of the NBA if he was passing on winning opportunities to create open looks for his teammates. If he passed, he was ridiculed for not stepping up. If he shot and missed, he was torn down for it.

James, the career scoring leader who ranks fourth in assists, still remembers “everything [that] has been negatively said†about his game. Any insinuation that he wouldnâ€t always choose the right play sticks with him the most.

“That aspect was always like the most, one of the most foolish things I’ve ever heard as far as making the right pass, making the right play,†James said. “We are in the business of winning basketball games. My whole life I’ve just played the game that way. I was taught the game that way and I’ve won at every single level I’ve played at by playing the game that way. So there was no reason for me to ever change once I got to this level.â€

James†unselfish play rubbed off on teammates who worked to earn his trust.

Lakers forward Rui Hachimura, left, celebrates with Austin Reaves, top left, and Jake LaRavia, center, after making the winning three-pointer against Toronto on Thursday. (Andrew Lahodynskyj / Getty Images)

“When you got someone like that, everybody’s gotta fall in line,†said Reaves, who is averaging 41 points in four games without Doncic this season. “If you don’t fall in line with someone like that, then you look crazy.â€

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The Lakers made it look perfect. Hachimura, who scored 12 points, sprinted down the sideline after his first winning buzzer-beater. Reaves jumped on his back. James yelled toward the Lakers bench with outstretched arms. Redick relished the look of pure joy on James†face.

The superstar took no time to mourn the streak that he never truly tried to build. When asked for his feelings about the end of a run that was set to turn 19 years old next month, James looked almost puzzled at the question.

“None,†James said. “We won.â€

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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  Eric KarabellDec 4, 2025, 09:00 AM ET

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  Eric Karabell is a senior writer for fantasy baseball, football and basketball at ESPN. Eric is a charter member of FSWA Hall of Fame and author of “The Best Philadelphia Sports Arguments”.

Each week in the NBA is its own story — full of surprises, both positive and negative — and fantasy football managers must decide what to believe and what not to believe moving forward. Perhaps we can help. If any of these thoughts come true … don’t be surprised!

Don’t be surprised if … Phoenix Suns PG Collin Gillespie becomes a top-100 fantasy option

OK, so perhaps “top 100” doesn’t seem like much, but you weren’t thinking about Gillespie three or four weeks ago. Perhaps you didn’t know he was in the league. The Villanova product who was part of a national championship team in 2018 went undrafted in 2022, and he made little impact for the 2023-24 Denver Nuggets. He started nine games late last season for the Suns, showing promise as a 3-point shooter, distributor and, perhaps most surprisingly, in racking up steals for a team playing its way out of a playoff spot.

Gillespie scored a career-best 28 points in Monday’s win over the Los Angeles Lakers, draining eight 3-pointers, dishing five assists, adding two steals. He has scored double digits in each of the past 10 games, averaging 30.6 MPG, 18 PPG, 4.6 APG and 1.5 SPG. Those are certainly relevant numbers for our purposes. Perhaps the Suns played Gillespie only because injuries dictated it, but now they see this is a legitimate player who shoots well from everywhere (50% on 3-pointers in 10 games) and plays capable defense.

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Fantasy managers aren’t reacting, as Gillespie is not on the most added list, and remains available in more than 60% of standard leagues. I admit Gillespie’s emergence is quite surprising, and he likely fits better as a sharp-shooting, reserve than running point next to star Devin Booker for 35 minutes, but add him first, then see what this looks like in a few weeks. It certainly seems legitimate.

As for other Suns thoughts, I feel a bit vindicated about my trust in C Mark Williams, who couldn’t stay healthy over his first three seasons with the Charlotte Hornets, but has missed only four of the first 22 games in Phoenix, several as the team has been overly cautious. Williams isn’t quite delivering the scoring, rebounding and blocking figures I expected with health, but he is clearly outshining his tepid ADP, as is controversial SF/SG Dillon Brooks, who is somehow averaging 22.9 PPG. He’s no Kevin Durant, but Brooks is seizing usage opportunity, and it all looks legit. I don’t think the Suns are a top-6 West team, but they will qualify for the play-in round.

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Collin Gillespie fights off defender for and-1

Collin Gillespie fights off defender for and-1

Perhaps it is just coincidence, but the Hawks have become a completely different team — a better one, undoubtedly — since Young left the lineup in the fifth game of the season with a sprained right MCL. Young led the Hawks of past seasons in scoring, usage and highlights (though rarely, and quite notably, in the analytically inclined Win Shares), and nobody has accumulated more assists since he entered the league, but there are several negatives in his game, too. Young is a career 42% field goal shooter, has led the league in turnovers three times and let’s just say defense is far from a priority.

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Without Young, the Hawks have been one of the league’s top defensive teams over the past month, and PF Jalen Johnson has continued to blossom into one of the league’s great talents. Johnson averages 50.5 fantasy points per game, eighth in the league. He and the league’s top steals option, SG/PG Dyson Daniels, combine for 13.3 APG, and they defend. Journeyman SG Nickeil Alexander-Walker, still available in more than 35% of ESPN leagues, averages 20.4 PPG and 34.7 fantasy points, and he defends. What’s striking, from a fantasy aspect, is how, after Johnson, four other Hawks average more fantasy points per game than Young was, small sample acknowledged.

Young averaged 45.3 fantasy points last season, so we should judge him on that basis, not at his current 31.4 mark per game, but with the Hawks performing better without him (hey, the numbers don’t lie), perhaps a trade is sensible. This is not a good time to trade for Young in fantasy. For one, I worry the Hawks are in absolutely no hurry to get him back into the lineup, as they recently tacked on another two weeks to his recovery before re-evaluation. Perhaps we don’t see Young on the court again until January.

The Hawks haven’t won as many as 44 games in a season since … 2016, so whatever they’ve done in Young’s era, while fun, hasn’t really worked. The current crew, balanced and willing to defend, looks like it may sail past 44 wins. We can’t know where Young would end up, but in-season trades offer no guarantees of fluid statistical production, so we shouldn’t assume he simply averages 25 PPG and 10 APG just because he has in the past. If Young remains a Hawk, perhaps his role in the offense and minutes are diminished, too. Something to ponder, anyway.

Don’t be surprised if … Los Angeles Lakers SG/PG/SF Austin Reaves remains a top-25 fantasy option all season

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Austin Reaves cashes in on a trey for the Lakers

Austin Reaves cashes in on a trey for the Lakers

Perhaps this section is more about the impact SF/PF LeBron James is going to have on the Lakers than what Reaves is doing. Hey, you knew this was coming. First, let me say I do not think James is necessarily done as a top 25 fantasy option on a per-game basis, though recent results show otherwise. James has remarkably scored double digit traditional points in every game for 18 years, but he has barely made it there in a few recent games. He looks hurt. He was hurt, missing the start of the season with sciatica and recently, a game recovering from a foot ailment.

My concern here is two-fold. First, the Lakers look like a playoff team with or without James, so they may sit him — for his own good, for management purposes — so much in the final months of the regular season that it works against his fantasy value. Don’t get mad, but this may look like the Philadelphia 76ers and C Joel Embiid. Nobody likes that comparison, but James isn’t likely to play through known ailments, and certainly not on back-to-back situations. James should average more like 20 PPG, 7 RPG, 8 APG when he plays, unlike the current numbers. He will shoot better. C’mon, he’s not a 55% free throw shooter. He’s just not healthy.

In this vein and considering cost, of course, it may make more sense to invest in Reaves, who has legitimately crazy numbers that now look more realistic to continue, than to pay a similar price in fantasy for James, who turns 41 this month. Reaves missed nary a game two seasons ago, and only nine games last season. That makes him durable, and this season, more than any other in NBA history, the stars are not durable.

Oddly, Reaves’s usage is roughly the same with James in the lineup. The minutes and shots remain there, and Reaves is performing splendidly. I don’t think he averages his current 48.1 fantasy points all season, but he averaged 38 points last season. Let’s say 43 points for the final months. That is still great. That’s what Stephen Curry, Jalen Johnson and Jalen Brunson averaged last season. Trade for James as if he is a top 50 fantasy option the rest of the season, for it is never a good idea to bet against him, but covet Reaves as if, thanks to him playing in more games, he remains a potential top 25 option.

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Jaxson Hayes grabbed a rebound late in the second quarter and passed the ball to Luka Doncic, who promptly threw a bad pass for a turnover. A few seconds later, Doncic got a rebound and lost the ball for another turnover. Then he threw away another pass. A minute later, he did it again.

Over a roughly two-minute stretch in the second quarter, Doncic turned the ball over four times.

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It was that kind of night for Doncic and the Lakers. Their inability to take care of the basketball doomed them in a 125-108 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Monday night at Crypto.com Arena.

The Lakers had 22 turnovers and Doncic had nine.

“Yeah, that was my fault. No way I can have nine turnovers in the game,†said Doncic, who also had 38 points and 11 rebounds. “So in that second quarter… they’re giving the shots, (so) instead of shooting the ball, I feel like I was trying to get (everyone) involved. But there’s no way I should have nine turnovers.â€

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Austin Reaves was nearly as bad, turning it over five times.

“I dribbled the ball literally out of bounds one time,†said Reaves, who had 16 points. “I’ve done it before. I did it tonight and at some point I’ll probably do it again. … I was bad in that aspect, so I gotta be better.â€

LeBron James, who extended his double-figure scoring streak in the regular season to 1,297 games, had three turnovers as the Lakers’ Big Three combined for 17.

Entering the game, the Suns averaged an NBA-high 10.6 steals per game, and the Lakers were aware of that.

“Turnovers, turnovers (and) transition points,†said James about what went wrong for the Lakers. “And obviously on our home floor and against a disruptive defense like that, you canâ€t turn the ball over that much. And they were pretty much all pick-sixes. They not only turned us over, they were able to convert.â€

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Lakers hit the road

Lakers center Jaxson Hayes battles Suns forward Oso Ighodaro for the ball during the Lakers’ loss Monday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Now the Lakers must take their show on the road, playing three games in four nights on the East Coast against opponents all above .500.

They start Thursday night against the 14-7 Toronto Raptors, then face the 11-9 Boston Celtics on Friday before finishing the trip Sunday against the 10-9 Philadelphia 76ers.

“Well, the road trip should always refocus you, no matter how youâ€re playing,†James said. “So, I donâ€t think it took for us to have this game tonight to refocus us.â€

The Raptors have lost two straight, but they are 8-2 in their last 10 games.

“I don’t watch too much NBA, sorry,†said Doncic when asked to share his thoughts on the Raptors. “I know they have a good record. I love the coach [Darko Rajakovic]. … I know he has (them) playing physical, so we’re gonna see.”

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The Lakers will also see if James will play in back-to-back games.

He didnâ€t play against the Pelicans on Sunday night in the first game of a back-to-back.

Since the Lakers listed James out with left foot injury management, he was asked if that was something new for this season after he missed the first 14 games with sciatica.

“Yeah, itâ€s called old,†said James, who turns 41 this month.

Poor defense

Lakers coach coach JJ Redick looks on as the Lakers play the Suns on Monday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

The Lakers had a defensive plan in place, but it didnâ€t work.

They allowed the Suns to shoot 57% from the field and 44% from three-point range.

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Collin Gillespie, a known three-point shooter, went eight for 14 from three-point range on his way to 28 points. Royce Oâ€Neale made two three-pointers.

“I don’t remember ever talking about going under (screens) versus lasers (three-point shooters), and Gillespie’s making threes and Royce O’Neale was making threes, going under,†Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “I don’t know, I don’t know. It’s a weird sort of thing.â€

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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As long as Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are playing, the Lakers always stand a good chance of winning — even if LeBron James is out.

That proved to be the case yet again Sunday night at Crypto.com Arena as the Lakers rolled over the injury-depleted New Orleans Pelicans 133-121 with James out managing a left foot injury.

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The Lakers (15-4) won their seventh straight game behind Doncicâ€s 34 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists and Reaves†33 points and eight assists.

The Lakers have a game Monday against the visiting Phoenix Suns, but it’s unclear if James will play.

James missed the first 14 games of this season with sciatica and has played in just four games. Left foot injury management also kept him out of some games last season.

“It’s something we’ve had to manage,†Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “Given the back-to-back and the fact that he’s basically just coming off his training camp — this has been his training camp over the last 10 days or so — [we’re] just being cautious.”

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With James in his 23rd NBA campaign at age 40, it remains to be seen how many back-to-back games he will play this season. The Lakers have 10 sets left after Monday.

“No, we’re going to build him up, hopefully, to be able to play in back-to-backs,†Redick said. “That’s the goal. But you are correct. Every back-to-back is a case-by-case. That’s just the reality of the NBA right now. But we want him to be able to play in back-to-backs. So does he. So, we’re going to work toward that.â€

The 15-4 Lakers have 63 regular-season games left, meaning that James can miss only two more if he wants to reach the NBA minimum of 65 games that players need to appear in to earn postseason awards. James has made a league-record 21 straight All-NBA teams.

Redick said individual postseason awards have “never come up as something thatâ€s important” in his discussions with James.

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“I want all my guys to get whatever award they deserve,†Redick said. “Of course, I want, you know, Austin, Luka, LeBron, like whoever, I want them to get awards. That’s great for them, but … the list of things that you have to worry about and think about as a player and coach, it’s so far down the list.â€

The Lakers scored 77 points in the first half against New Orleans, tying the most points they have scored in any half this season, and they scored 46 points in the first quarter, the most they have scored in any frame this season.

It figured to be an easy night for the Lakers, who also got 22 points and 12 rebounds from Deandre Ayton, with the Pelicans (3-18) missing starters and key role players, including Zion Williamson, who was managing a left hamstring injury.

Lakers guard Marcus Smart missed his second straight game with back spasms.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)…

SHOW SUMMARY:In this weekâ€s Interview Classic podcasts, we’re jumping back to two interviews – one from Paul Heyman and another from Bob Roop.

Ten years ago this week, we published a PWTorch editor Wade Keller’s interview with Paul Heyman from 1992 that aired live on his KFAN Pro Wrestling Focus radio show. In this interview, Heyman predicts super-stardom for Steve Austin and explains why he never paid for a wrestling ticket. This show also includes news coverage at the start of the and live callers.

Then we present the Dec. 2, 2015 episode of the PWTorch Livecast when Pat McNeill interviewed Bob Roop, a territory veteran wrestler who reacted to Raw from earlier in the week, his thoughts on the terms “jobber” and “enhancement talent,” who was the most over-pushed wrestler in WCW, the Authority taking up so much TV time, WWE asking which other TV shows fans watch, Charlotte mentioning the death or Reid on the air, and more.

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The feud between Stone Cold Steve Austin and Bret Hart is arguably one of the most important storylines of the 90s, as it kickstarted what would eventually become WWE’s “Attitude Era.” Years later, during the anniversary of the “Montreal Screwjob,” Hart returned to Montreal for the “Johnny I Pro Show,” where he looked back at his history with Austin.

“We just always had a good chemistry…I think I had a lot to do with Steve going to WWF in the first place,” Hart claimed. The veteran then explained that he always tried to get Vince McMahon to bring new talent on board, and criticized his former boss for letting Austin go to WCW. “I had just heard from somebody that Steve Austin had been let go or had just re-signed, I think, with ECW.”

Hart further claimed that he also questioned McMahon on not trying to scoop Austin up again, and with the ECW deal, McMahon finally took action and signed him within a few months. “So, I had a lot to do with Steve coming to the WWF in the first place, so when he did arrive, I was like: ‘There you are!’ Like, ‘I was the one who was trying to get you in here!'”

Bret Hart fondly looks back at his WrestleMania 13 clash against Steve Austin

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When it came to Stone Cold Steve Austin’s ability, Bret Hart boldly proclaimed that his former rival was a really good wrestler who wanted to work hard and make a difference. “So, I think the fact that we just had a really good chemistry in the beginning led to everything else,” he added. “The WrestleMania 13 match was… We fought at Survivor Series, which was a really good match too.” Hart, looking back at Survivor Series 1996, claimed he did everything he could think of in that match, and putting the match together with Austin allowed them to just wrestle at WrestleMania 13 because of the chemistry they’d built.

“The Hitman” then criticized the concept of the “I Quit” match, noting that he even complained to Vince McMahon, but that he and Austin ultimately made the best of what they were given.Â

“I always loved the match for so many things,” Bret said. “Even the blood, you know, I mean, just to be frank and honest, nobody would be, probably, talking about that match today if there wasn’t blood in it.”

Some consider his WrestleMania 13 match against Austin as the greatest match of all time, but Hart felt that was a bit presumptuous.

“I don’t have any problem saying that was the greatest match of all time, although that’s impossible to say, but it was just such a beautiful story,” Hart said.

If you use any quotes from this article, please credit “Johnny I Pro Show” and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

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SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)…

SHOW SUMMARY:This installment of the PWTorch VIP Vault jumps back to the Oct. 19 and 20, 2007 episodes of the Bruce Mitchell Audio Show with host Wade Keller. They discussed these topics:

• Lex Luger’s health problems and look back at his career
• A transition into the potentially bright final (?) chapter to his good friend Sting’s career and the pros and cons of it being in WWE versus TNA
• A look at nearly a dozen potential former WWE wrestlers TNA could bring in
• The return of Joey Mercury to the ring
• Additional thoughts on TNA
• The ratings for the two hour Impact
• The post-Bound for Glory booking scene
• The Smackdown-ECW merger of sorts
• The latest on Chris Jericho
• The movie careers of Rock and Steve Austin and their developments this month
• John Cena on “The Apprentice” with Donald Trump
• Nick Hogan’s legal trouble
• Thoughts on the two major themes of Monday’s Raw
• And more

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The story still was about Lakers superstar Luka Doncic and Dallas star Anthony Davis, who were part of one of the NBAâ€s most infamous trades. They forever will be linked after the Mavericks shocked the basketball universe last February by shipping generational talent Doncic to the Lakers in a deal for multitalented Davis.

On Friday night, however, Doncic shared the spotlight with Austin Reaves, who continues to be a shining star for the Lakers.

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They combined for 73 points during the Lakers†129-119 win over the Mavericks, and it was Reaves holding down the leading scorer spot over backcourt running mate Doncic.

Reaves was efficient with his work in scoring 38 points, going 12 for 15 from the field and six for eight from three-point range to go with eight rebounds.

Lakers guard Luka Doncic is called of for a blocking foul on Mavericks forward Naji Marshall at Crypto.com Arena on Friday. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)

The fans even chanted “M-V-P!” when Reaves shot two free throws midway through the fourth quarter, a sign of how dominant he was.

Doncic also was efficient in dropping 35 points on his old Mavericks teammates, going 10 for 17 from the field, four for nine from three-point range, and making all 11 of his free throws.

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Doncic also had 11 assists and five rebounds to help the Lakers push their winning streak to six.

The Lakers improved to 4-0 in NBA Cup Group B play and clinched home-court advantage in the quarterfinals. They will host the San Antonio Spurs on Dec 10.

Davis, who returned after missing 14 games because of a left calf strain, scored 12 points, grabbed five rebounds and handed out five assists in his first game in Los Angeles since the trade.

Deandre Ayton, who missed the Lakers’ game against the Clippers on Tuesday because of a right knee contusion, had 17 points and eight rebounds.

Dallas rookie Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 pick in the draft, had 13 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds.

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Court change

The Lakers didnâ€t use their special NBA Cup court during their group stage game against the Mavericks after the team flagged concerns that it was too slippery.

After the Lakers debuted the special yellow court Tuesday in a win over the Clippers, Doncic said during his postgame news conference that the floor was dangerously slippery. The team reported the problem to the league, and technicians from the court vendor determined the surface was unplayable for the group stage finale, according to a team spokesperson.

The court could be repaired and available in time for the NBA Cup quarterfinals.

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The colorful NBA Cup courts were designed to help set the in-season tournament apart from other regular-season games. The Lakers played their first two NBA Cup games on the road — in Memphis and New Orleans — and Doncic did not remember having a problem with courts in those games, but it became immediately clear during pregame warmups Tuesday that the Lakers†bright yellow NBA Cup court presented issues.

“It just felt weird. Just like oily, slippery,†forward Rui Hachimura said Friday morning. “Everybody was on the floor, literally.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves got a kick out of starting alongside Bronny James, and not his father, during Saturday night’s win over the Milwaukee Bucks.

“How about Bronny James starting in the NBA, and LeBron’s assigned to the G League? That’s fun. That’s awesome,” Reaves said after the 119-95 victory (h/t ESPN’s Dave McMenamin).

LeBron is practicing with the Lakers’ G League affiliate while ramping up his rehab from the sciatica that has sidelined him for the beginning of the 2025-26 season.

“I told him he should play a game,” Reaves said about James’ stint with the South Bay Lakers. “Still, I still don’t believe it.”

Bronny meanwhile made his first start of the season with the Lakers while Rui Hachimura and Marcus Smart were sidelined against the Bucks.

He ultimately recorded no points and was minus-6 in 10 minutes on the court, going 0-for-2 from deep while contributing one assist, one rebound and a steal.

The outing marked the second start of James’ NBA career. He previously started, and played more than 38 minutes, in last season’s regular-season finale loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.

So far during his second NBA season, James has come in and out of the lineup while averaging around 12 minutes per game while playing. His most productive game, a nine-point performance on Nov. 8, came when JJ Redick let him play out the fourth quarter of a blowout loss at the Atlanta Hawks.

The Lakers had a more successful outing Saturday, when they surged out to a 12-point lead by the end of the first quarter.

Luka DonÄić racked up 41 points, while Reaves posted 25 points and Deandre Ayton contributed 20 points and 10 rebounds to the win.

McMenamin reported Friday that LeBron James had rejoined five-on-five practice as a full participant for the first time in “nearly six months,” and that he could potentially make his season debut during next Tuesday’s home game against the Utah Jazz.

The Lakers will hope getting the elder James back to play alongside DonÄić, Reaves and Ayton will help the team stay competitive in the crowded top of the Western Conference.

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