OKLAHOMA CITY — While the Lakers were preparing for Wednesday’s prime-time matchup against the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder, one of their star players was back at the organization’s El Segundo training facility progressing with their return-to-play process.

LeBron James practiced with the Lakers’ South Bay G League affiliate on Wednesday as he continues to work his way back from sciatica that has sidelined him to start the season.

Lakers coach JJ Redick said James “got up and down a little bit with warmup transition drills” before progressing to half-court five-on-five, and eventually “12-15 possessions” of contact five-on-five.

“It was also an incredible opportunity for [South Bay coach] Zach [Guthrie] and his staff and all the guys that are with South Bay right now to have that experience,” Redick said. “But the reports are that he looked good, and was moving well.”

Wednesday was James’ first practice in a team setting since the Lakers announced last Thursday that the four-time league MVP had progressed to contact basketball activity and would be reevaluated in about 1-2 weeks.

“I told him, you should play a game,” guard Austin Reaves said. “It would just be funny — with South Bay. But can’t wait for him to come back. Obviously, it’s LeBron James. He’s, in my opinion, the greatest player to ever touch a basketball. Can’t wait to get him back.”

Redick told reporters two weeks ago that the team was hopeful James would make his return in the second or third week of November.

“We can’t wait,” star guard Luka Doncic said. “All of us can’t wait. It’s Bron, so it’s always good to have him back. Hopefully soon.”

The Lakers left Southern California last Thursday for their on-going five-game road trip, which ends with a back-to-back set against the New Orleans Pelicans and Milwaukee Bucks on Friday and Saturday, respectively.

The team will take Sunday off, and is scheduled to practice on Monday ahead of Tuesday’s home game against the Utah Jazz. Redick wasn’t sure whether the league’s all-time leading scorer would be a part of that practice.

“I have no idea on that,” Redick said of James’ status for the practice. “We’re going to practice, I’ll tell you that, but I don’t know if [he’ll] be part of it.”

James will become the first player in league history to play 23 NBA seasons when he makes his season debut.

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