Mar 10 2025 2 mins
The Los Angeles Lakers are facing a significant setback with the injury of their superstar forward, LeBron James. During the fourth quarter of Saturday's game against the Boston Celtics, James suffered a groin injury that forced him to leave the game and not return.
According to early indications, James is likely to miss at least one to two weeks due to this injury. While he does not believe the injury is as severe as the one he suffered in the 2018-19 season, which kept him out for over a month, groin injuries can be notoriously tricky to recover from[2][5].
James himself reflected on the past injury, stating that his mind immediately flashed to the Christmas Day game in 2018 when he heard his groin muscle pop. However, he emphasized that this current injury does not feel as serious. Despite this reassurance, the Lakers are cautious, with no decision made on a specific return date other than to monitor the injury daily[2][5].
The timing of this injury is particularly challenging for the Lakers, who are entering a compressed and demanding stretch of their schedule. Over the next 14 days, they will play eight games, starting with a matchup against the Brooklyn Nets on Monday. James' absence will undoubtedly impact the team's performance, especially given their current third-place standing in the Western Conference[2][5].
Austin Reaves, a teammate of James, expressed concern about the injury but also highlighted the team's need for a "next-man-up mentality." Reaves acknowledged the difficulty of dealing with injuries at this critical time in the season but emphasized the importance of team resilience[2].
The injury has also affected the Lakers' NBA championship odds, which have dropped from +1000 to +1200 following the news. Despite this, the Lakers remain among the top contenders, though their sixth-hardest remaining schedule in the NBA adds to the complexity of their situation[5].
As the Lakers navigate this challenging period, they will rely on their depth and the ability of other players to step up in James' absence. With Rui Hachimura and Jaxson Hayes also dealing with injuries, the team's depth will be thoroughly tested in the coming weeks[2].
According to early indications, James is likely to miss at least one to two weeks due to this injury. While he does not believe the injury is as severe as the one he suffered in the 2018-19 season, which kept him out for over a month, groin injuries can be notoriously tricky to recover from[2][5].
James himself reflected on the past injury, stating that his mind immediately flashed to the Christmas Day game in 2018 when he heard his groin muscle pop. However, he emphasized that this current injury does not feel as serious. Despite this reassurance, the Lakers are cautious, with no decision made on a specific return date other than to monitor the injury daily[2][5].
The timing of this injury is particularly challenging for the Lakers, who are entering a compressed and demanding stretch of their schedule. Over the next 14 days, they will play eight games, starting with a matchup against the Brooklyn Nets on Monday. James' absence will undoubtedly impact the team's performance, especially given their current third-place standing in the Western Conference[2][5].
Austin Reaves, a teammate of James, expressed concern about the injury but also highlighted the team's need for a "next-man-up mentality." Reaves acknowledged the difficulty of dealing with injuries at this critical time in the season but emphasized the importance of team resilience[2].
The injury has also affected the Lakers' NBA championship odds, which have dropped from +1000 to +1200 following the news. Despite this, the Lakers remain among the top contenders, though their sixth-hardest remaining schedule in the NBA adds to the complexity of their situation[5].
As the Lakers navigate this challenging period, they will rely on their depth and the ability of other players to step up in James' absence. With Rui Hachimura and Jaxson Hayes also dealing with injuries, the team's depth will be thoroughly tested in the coming weeks[2].