LeBron James details the scary knee injury that ended his postseason — and how he couldn’t even wait a day for an MRI.
For the first time in his 22-year NBA career, LeBron James suffered a knee injury — and it came at the worst possible time.
Speaking candidly on his “Mind The Game” podcast, LeBron opened up about the moment he knew something was wrong during Game 5 of the Lakers’ first-round series against the Timberwolves.
“As soon as the impact happened with me and DiVincenzo, I felt it right away. My knee locked up, and that’s why I kinda stayed on the ground for a minute to see if it would release. But I knew right then and there — it was a pain I hadn’t felt before.”
LeBron remained in the game and finished it, but the damage was done. The Lakers were eliminated, and James was left dealing with a sprained MCL in his left knee.
“I Can’t Wait Till Friday”
Originally, LeBron planned to get an MRI on Friday following the game — but his body had other plans.
“Wednesday night after the game, it was sore. I told the doctors, ‘Let’s get the MRI Friday morning.’”
“But when I woke up Thursday and tried to get out of bed, I was like, ‘Holy s—.’ I called the doc right away and said, ‘I can’t wait till Friday, I need to go today.’”
MRI Results: Sprained MCL, 4–6 Weeks Out
The following day, James underwent testing — and the MRI confirmed the worst:
A sprained medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his left knee.
The doctors gave LeBron a 4-to-6-week recovery window, making it clear that even if the Lakers had extended the series, their superstar would have likely been unavailable.
“Obviously, I wish I was still going. But even if we had won Game 5, I would’ve probably missed the next couple games and even further,” James admitted.
What’s Next for the King?
Now 39, LeBron has not yet made a decision about his future in L.A. or the NBA at large. His $52.6 million player option looms, and his recent comments suggest he’ll discuss his next move with his family and inner circle.
But in the short term, it’s all about recovery.
“I’ve got some time to get it right and get back to full strength as far as my knee.”
This injury may have robbed fans of a deeper playoff run, but James made one thing clear: this was real, not narrative spin.
“It was a pain I hadn’t felt before.”
