Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James made a surprise return to the court on Thursday to face his team's cross-arena rival at Staples Center. Though The King clearly had built up some rust after missing the Lakers' previous 16 games, it was also clear he didn't spend all that time away from the game resting on his four MVPs and three Larry O'Brien trophies.

Instead, James apparently added the step-back triple that James Harden made famous to his offensive repertoire, busting it out successfully early in the fourth quarter of a tight game against the L.A. Clippers.

Check that.

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Look at James' feet when he releases the ball.

Though his attempt to mimic Harden's iconic step-back was honorable, he clearly still has some work to do to get it right. Not only is James' footwork oddly choppy, but he fails to get his right foot behind the three-point line, rendering his 23-footer the same as any routine finish at the rim.

Los Angeles went 6-10 without James as he rehabbed from a groin strain suffered on Christmas Day, falling to ninth place in the Western Conference standings ā€“ two games behind the Clippers. Needless to say, the Lakers should fare much better now that The King is healthy enough to play ā€“ and perhaps especially if a corrected version of the Harden step-back becomes a regular part of his game.