LeBron James sustained a groin strain during the fourth quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers’ game against the Boston Celtics, forcing him to exit the contest. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, James is expected to be sidelined for at least 1-to-2 weeks. Charania reported on X (formerly Twitter) that “Los Angeles Lakers star [LeBron] James is expected to miss at least 1-to-2 weeks with a groin strain, sources tell ESPN. James will wait for the groin injury to calm down over the next 24 hours and receive another evaluation.”
Los Angeles Lakers Injury Update
Initial concerns suggested a more extended absence, but now the Lakers must navigate a period without their star player. James’ previous groin injury during his first season resulted in a 17-game absence. However, this current injury differs in that James did not report hearing a “pop,” as noted by Charania.
“James said his mind immediately went to his groin injury Christmas Day 2018 when he felt a pop in his groin and missed significant time. James said he does not believe this injury is as bad as that one, and then knocked on the wooden locker behind him to not jinx it,” ESPN’s Dave McMenamin wrote on X. This provides some relief that this is not as severe as the previous injury.
The Lakers have been on a strong run, climbing to third place in the Western Conference. With James sidelined, the focus shifts to Luka Doncic, who has demonstrated the capacity to lead the team. Other players will also need to elevate their performance, but Doncic’s ability to carry the team is well-established.
While the absence of James is a setback, a 1-2 week recovery period could prove beneficial in the long term, particularly as the Lakers aim for a deep playoff run. The rest could serve to revitalize James for the postseason.