LeBron James’s return to the court for the Los Angeles Lakers is anticipated in the coming days. He is potentially slated to play against either the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday or the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday. His availability will depend on his continued recovery from lingering discomfort in his foot and ankle.
“I’m told James will be reevaluated later today and there is optimism he could be able to play in at least one of the next two games,” ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Tuesday’s NBA Today.
LeBron James Expected To Miss More Time For The Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers are attempting to balance two key factors in determining James’s return: the importance of fostering on-court chemistry between him and Luka Dončić and the potential benefits of extended rest for the veteran’s body. The prospect of giving the 40-year-old James a total of nine rest days by strategically sitting him out against two teams with losing records is being seriously considered, given the value such rest could provide.
This injury has already sidelined LeBron James, forcing him to miss the All-Star Game—a first in his illustrious career.
“I was hoping it would feel a lot better this morning, but it was not where I wanted it to be,” he told reporters at the time regarding his ankle.
“With 30 games left and us trying to make a playoff push in the wild, wild West, I felt like it was very important for me to kind of take care of myself and understand what’s coming on [down the stretch],” he added.
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The pairing of James and Dončić presents an intriguing challenge: developing synergy between two players accustomed to leading their respective offenses. While neither player is a traditional point guard, both frequently function as the primary catalyst for their team’s offensive schemes. Dončić’s shooting ability allows him to effectively play off the ball, as he has demonstrated alongside Kyrie Irving. Similarly, the prospect of James operating as a cutter while Dončić orchestrates the offense should create significant problems for opposing defenses.
The development of this dynamic will require time and effort, but the Lakers have ample opportunity to refine their approach. Ultimately, prioritizing James’s long-term health takes precedence, although he is expected to participate in at least one game of the upcoming back-to-back set.
Doncic is also expected to miss some time coming out of the All-Star break.