In a segment on First Take this Friday, veteran NBA big man Kendrick Perkins shared a potentially critical update on Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James. According to Perkins, LeBron is not at full strength right now as he’s recovering from lingering injuries that have him playing at 70% health.
“Here’s the most important thing: LeBron James is not healthy,” Perkins said on First Take. “I think he’s probably about 70, 75 percent. So again, we’re talking about… a time where you’re supposed to be peaking going into the postseason, and the Lakers are trending backward. My sources are telling me he’s not healthy.”
LeBron James only recently returned to action from a groin injury, which kept him out for two weeks earlier in the season. With the Lakers taking a cautious approach, nobody questioned if James was ready to return, but Perkins says he’s not yet at full health, and it’s showing in his play.
LeBron is in a rough spot right now in what has otherwise been a solid season. In 62 games for the Lakers, he’s averaging 24.5 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 8.5 assists per game on 51.2% shooting.
In the aftermath of the Luka Doncic trade, LeBron has been a steady hand for the team, and he’s been helping make the transition as smooth as possible. At first, the Lakers were rolling with Luka and James on the floor, winning eight straight games in early March. Los Angeles was as high as the second seed in the West.
Over the last five games, however, LeBron has really been struggling, and it’s pulled the Lakers down. Since March 8 against the Celtics, James is averaging just 18.6 points per game on 42.6% shooting. The Lakers are 1-4 in this span, with their sole win being a one-point victory over the Pacers on Wednesday.
The loss to the Bulls last night was arguably James’ worst game of the season. He finished with 17 points on 40% shooting, but he also made several mistakes down the stretch that ultimately cost his team the win.
At 44-29 and losers of 6 in their last 10 games, the Lakers need to flip their current trajectory and get back on course in time for the playoffs. With the Western Conference being deeper than ever, the Lakers need every advantage they can get to make a run this season, but they’ll need everyone healthy more than anything.
After an ugly stretch of injuries, it seems the Lakers are finally whole again, but it could take some time for everyone to shake off the rust. For James, it’s imperative that he’s 100% healthy in time for the playoffs, and it’s clear he’s nowhere near that right now.
At 40 years old, the process is more complicated for LeBron, but Lakers fans can be assured that the King is doing everything he can to return to full power, even if it means missing more games in the final two weeks of the season.
In the end, only time will tell if LeBron James can return to form, but if he’s limited, then it makes the Lakers even more vulnerable in the frontcourt.
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