LeBron James has made more baskets than anyone not named Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, so he should be fairly numb to sinking a bucket during a November game. However, the all-time great surely appreciates what it means to do so in his history-making 23rd NBA campaign. Following a sciatica-induced stint on the sidelines, James made his season debut in Tuesday's battle versus the Utah Jazz, scoring his first points since the end of April.

Despite blending into the background for a good chunk of the first half, the 40-year-old got on the board with a 3-pointer almost four minutes into the second quarter. James is still finding ways to make an impact even when he is not putting the ball through the net, posting four assists at time of print.

Article Continues Below

Lakers fans are ecstatic to see the four-time NBA Finals MVP back on the court, especially since the team was already playing well without him, but many are curious as to what role he will occupy moving forward. James proved he could still compete at an All-NBA-caliber last season, averaging 24.4 points on 51.3 percent shooting to go along with 8.2 assists and 7.8 rebounds in 70 games. He remains a game-wrecker, but so too are Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.

All three players are versatile offensive talents who can do far more with the ball than just score. Having three skilled playmakers in the starting lineup is obviously an advantage, but it might take a bit for the Lakers to find the perfect balance. LeBron James may also require an adjustment period on an individual level, given that he is jumping into action midseason for the first time in his legendary career.

The Lakers have certainly taken the pressure off the all-time scoring leader, building a nice cushion for themselves through the first month of play. James will have games against the sub-.500 Jazz, Los Angeles Clippers, Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans to shake off the rust over the next week and a half.