LeBron James begins his record 23rd NBA season with stellar playmaking in Lakers’ win over Jazz

LOS ANGELES AP LeBron James certainly didn t look like he had been away from an NBA court for nearly seven months when he began his unprecedented rd season Tuesday night even if his burning lungs notified him otherwise After reaching another landmark in what is now officially the longest career in league history James was not at all surprised to return from his lengthy injury absence by fitting in seamlessly with the surging Los Angeles Lakers in yet another win James had points assists and three rebounds while starting and playing minutes in the Lakers - win over the Utah Jazz kicking off his new season with an impressive playmaking performance The pace tested me but I was happy with the way I was able to go with the guys James noted As the match went on my wind got a lot better Caught my second wind caught my third wind Rhythm is still coming back obviously First meeting in almost seven months so everything that happened tonight was to be expected That s because not much can surprise James at this point in his basketball odyssey not even the work necessary to overcome injuries The -year-old James had been sidelined since the start of training camp by sciatica keeping him out of the preseason and the Lakers first games of the regular season James who had never missed a season opener since he started playing organized basketball three decades ago returned to contact basketball activity last week before participating in his first Lakers practice of the new season Monday James realized that a few observers wondered whether his presence would disrupt the Lakers who got off to a - start without him The four-time NBA champion could only laugh I can fit in with anybody James revealed I don t even understand why that was even a question What s wrong with these people out here I can fit in right away with anybody Just watching the guys the first games I was putting myself mentally in position while I was watching the games of how I could help the group and how I could be profitable to help those guys I m still able to gain a lot of eyes when I m driving the ball or have the ball About minutes before tipoff the association validated James would start for the st time in his rd regular-season games He got a loud ovation when he was revealed first in the Lakers starting lineup James didn t number in his first minutes on court but soon located his rhythm After hitting a pair of -pointers in the second quarter he recorded eight assists in the second half including six in just over three minutes early in the fourth quarter Deandre Ayton was visibly impressed by James passing during his first chance to play in a battle alongside his new teammate The Lakers new center noted that the alley-oop pass he threw down for a dunk was veritably the second lob he had ever received from James the first was at James basketball camp in Las Vegas when Ayton a future No overall pick was in the eighth grade He played with the right spirit Lakers coach JJ Redick mentioned of James Very unselfish all night Was a willing passer Didn t force it Took his drives and his shots when they were there The defense is going to pay attention to him and I just thought he made a lot of great decisions tonight Really great to have him back James disclosed Monday that his body isn t in ideal tournament shape but he was eager to get started on his latest milestone achievement in a career packed with distinction Redick was also impressed by James fitness saying he could have played more minutes if the Lakers hadn t already run away from Utah LeBron is for a lot of us that played with him or specific of these guys that grew up watching him he s a superhero disclosed Redick who played NBA seasons What he s been able to do in this battle there s a handful of guys that have been able to do it James is the first participant ever to participate in NBA seasons Vince Carter played in seasons in a career that concluded in while five players have made it through seasons Robert Parish Kevin Willis Kevin Garnett Dirk Nowitzki and -year-old Chris Paul who presently plays for the Los Angeles Clippers Philadelphia guard Kyle Lowry is in his th season With this debut James is now just games behind Parish s NBA record for regular-season games played James already holds another NBA record with regular-season and playoff games combined more than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar along with the record for the greater part total minutes played James has repeatedly declared he isn t assuming this season will be his last but he also hasn t decided whether he ll play another year His the bulk up-to-date offseason was injury-plagued with two months of recovery after spraining his knee ligament during the Lakers first-round playoff loss to Minnesota followed by that painful bout of sciatica pain in the nerves running from the buttocks and down the back of the legs James became the top scorer in NBA history in February Last March he became the first NBA athlete to put up total points in the regular season and playoffs combined James is a four-time NBA Finals MVP who also has four league MVP awards and All-Star selections His career began with the Cleveland Cavaliers in October a year before the birth of his oldest son and current Lakers teammate Bronny James James led the Lakers to the franchise s th championship in the Florida bubble in Los Angeles made the Western Conference finals again in and it won the Pacific Division title last spring after acquiring Luka Doncic James self-described favorite current sportsman near midseason Los Angeles next competition isn t until Sunday also against the Jazz in Salt Lake City The Lakers will have at least two practices before then allowing James to continue to establish his chemistry and his role I don t have to worry about chemistry James stated This is a great group Everyone enjoys being around each another sacrificing for one another playing for one another Just got to get my wind get my rhythm back Missed a couple of chippies tonight that I m used to making But that will come around AP NBA https apnews com NBA Source