NBA superstar LeBron James has been away from the Lakers as he deals with a nagging groin injury. According to the latest intel from ESPN’s Shams Charania, James has returned to Los Angeles as he inches closer to his return.
“Lakers’ LeBron James has returned to Los Angeles, per medical recommendation, as he continues to progress well from a groin strain with the team finishing the road trip Thursday in Milwaukee and Friday in Denver, league sources tell ESPN.”
LeBron James is the oldest player in the NBA but he’s also been one of the most reliable for the Lakers. In 58 games this season, he’s averaging 25.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 8.5 assists per game on 51.7% shooting.
He’s been among the most consistent performers all year long and continues to push the limits of longevity. With retirement now on the horizon, however, LeBron doesn’t have much time left on the court and he wants to make the most of his playing days while he still can. Sadly, his latest injury has limited his availability this season.
After experiencing a non-contact groin injury, James had to leave Saturday’s game against the Celtics early and the Lakers struggled to keep up without him. He dropped 22 points, 14 rebounds, and nine assists in 34 minutes before leaving midway through the fourth quarter.
The Lakers lost that game and it was reported that his recovery could take closer to weeks than months. This would put James’ recovery toward the end of March, with just a few weeks left in the regular season. The good news is, he didn’t hear a pop like he did with his last groin injury.
Initially, there was worry among Lakers fans that LeBron would not be ready for the playoffs. At 40 years old with a history of injuries at this time of year, not everyone was convinced that he’d be at full strength in April, May, and June.
After the Luka Doncic trade, with the team still trying to adjust to the new roster, it’s more important than ever for LeBron to get that run time with Luka and develop that chemistry he had with Anthony Davis. So far, the two have found plenty of common ground but much work needs to be done before they’re at a level they feel satisfied with.
At the same time, James (40), has been taking a cautious approach with his health this season and he knows that rushing the process will risk his recovery. After 21 years in the NBA, and thousands of miles running up and down the court, it’s more important than ever for James to preserve and care for his body to ensure that his game stays at an elite level for as long as possible.
For their part, the Lakers will ensure that LeBron has everything he needs to stay in shape and prepare for the playoff grind. As the third seed in the West. The Lakers are well-positioned to make a long postseason run, but they will need their two stars (LeBron and Luka) at 100% to have any chance to win. These next few weeks will be huge for the Lakers in getting LeBron back on track and fully healthy for the home stretch.
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