Lakers star LeBron James has returned to Los Angeles on medical advice as he continues to recover from a strained left groin, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
James sustained the injury in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s loss to the Boston Celtics. He also missed Monday’s defeat against the Brooklyn Nets, where Jaxson Hayes, Rui Hachimura, and Dorian Finney-Smith were sidelined as well.
UPDATE: LeBron has returned to LA and progressing well from groin injury while the Lakers are on road trip
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) March 12, 2025
GREAT NEWS 💜💛 pic.twitter.com/llxHbtSwVh
The Lakers, currently on a four-game road trip, have two games left: against the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday and the Denver Nuggets on Friday. Sources indicate James could be out for one to two weeks. Meanwhile, Hayes (right knee contusion) and Hachimura (left patellar tendinopathy) have been ruled out for Thursday, while Finney-Smith (ankle) is set to return, according to ESPN.
LeBron James’ agent, Rich Paul declined to set a return date
LeBron James’ agent, Rich Paul, has raised concerns about James’ groin injury, which he sustained against the Boston Celtics. Initially expected to miss one to two weeks, James now faces an uncertain timeline. On The Pat McAfee Show, Paul stressed the need for proper management and declined to set a return date, suggesting the injury might be more serious than first thought.
"LeBron James knows his body better than anybody and he's played a lot of basketball..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 11, 2025
When you have this type of injury you have to manage it properly..
I won't put a timetable on when he'll be back"@RichPaul4 #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/fE9nGiuUPE
Groin injuries are notoriously tricky, and at 40, James has carried a heavy workload: 58 games, 34.9 minutes per game this season. Rushing him back could risk further injury, a gamble the Lakers can’t afford with the playoffs just over a month away.
The Lakers lost their first game without James but remain in position to avoid the play-in tournament. They lead the seventh-seeded Timberwolves by 4.5 games and will aim to maintain their top-six standing in his absence.
Securing a top-six seed is crucial for the Lakers as they push toward the postseason.
READ: Luka Doncic Smashed in the Face Multiple Times in Game Against Celtics
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