A lingering groin injury will sideline the Lakers superstar for at least another week, pushing his highly anticipated return to March 24.
The Los Angeles Lakers are in a slump, losing four straight games—including the last three without LeBron James. The NBA’s all-time leading scorer suffered the injury last Saturday during the Lakers’ loss to the Boston Celtics, leaving his team without its top playmaker at a crucial point in the season.
Return Timeline Pushed Back
Initially, reports indicated that James was on track to return between March 17 and 22. However, journalist Shams Charania has now reported that the 40-year-old forward will miss another week, delaying his comeback to at least March 24, when the Lakers visit the Orlando Magic.
This update aligns with the prediction of NBA legend and TNT analyst Charles Barkley, who speculated that James might sit out the rest of the regular season and return just in time for the playoffs.
Lakers’ Playoff Position at Risk
Coach JJ Redick’s squad has slipped to fifth place in the Western Conference but remains just two games behind the second-seeded Denver Nuggets. However, they must turn things around quickly to avoid being passed by the surging Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves, who currently hold a 2.5-game advantage.
Beyond their position in the standings, the Lakers are also feeling the absence of LeBron’s production, as he has been averaging 25.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 8.5 assists in his 21st NBA season.
