Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James has been ruled out for tonight’s game against the Brooklyn Nets, likely the first of many games he will miss during the final stretch of the NBA regular season.
James was pulled from Saturday night’s game against the Boston Celtics in the fourth quarter after experiencing discomfort in his groin. Los Angeles would go on to lose the game.
James Addresses Injury, But Timeline Looks Longer
The 21-time All-Star downplayed concerns after the game, telling the media:
“Not much concern. Obviously, we’ll go day-to-day and look at it each day and see if it gets better, then take the proper measures and see what we need to do moving forward.”
However, the injury appears more serious than James suggested. ESPN’s Shams Charania reports that James could be sidelined for at least one to two weeks.
The Lakers face a tough stretch without him, with two games each against the Denver Nuggets and Milwaukee Bucks.
A Recurring Problem for LeBron James
The 40-year-old is having one of his most productive seasons, averaging 25 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 8.5 assists per game while shooting over 50% from the field. However, his lingering groin issues remain a concern.
James first suffered a groin injury on Christmas Day in 2018 against the Golden State Warriors, marking his first major career injury and prematurely ending his 2018-19 season.
He bounced back the following year, leading the Lakers to an NBA title, but the injury resurfaced during the first round of the 2021 playoffs against the Phoenix Suns. The Lakers went on to lose that series.
The good news for L.A.: James said he did not feel a “pop” this time, unlike in 2018, and described the injury as less severe.
A Blow to the Red-Hot Lakers
James’ latest injury comes at a particularly inopportune time. The Lakers entered Saturday’s game against the Celtics on a seven-game winning streak, having won 18 of their last 21 games to surge into second place in the Western Conference.
The recent acquisition of Luka Doncic has accelerated the Lakers’ ascent, but the team’s resurgence began before his arrival — largely driven by James’ age-defying elite play. The pairing of Luka and LeBron has elevated the Lakers into the NBA’s top four, making them legitimate Finals contenders.
That chase, however, could be in jeopardy if James is forced to miss significant time.
Doncic too has been managing his own injuries, including a left calf strain suffered on Christmas Day. He is listed as questionable for tonight’s game against the Nets due to back soreness. Doncic was seen holding his lower back during Saturday’s loss to the Celtics.
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