Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham said that the team expects LeBron James to return this season, though he did not provide a specific timeline for his recovery.
Darvin Ham made the LeBron James injury update before the Lakers' victory over the Orlando Magic on Sunday. Though, some say it's getting late for LeBron James to make his comeback, considering that there are just three weeks left of the regular NBA season, per CBS Sports. Moreover, it is unclear if LeBron James will be fully ready to return to the squad following his foot injury.
On February 26 against the Dallas Mavericks, LeBron James was injured in the foot. He remained on the court to help the Lakers beat the Mavericks despite being down by 27 points, but he hasn't played for them afterward.
Shams Charania of The Athletic just revealed that the Lakers are making plans for a significant absence, so it seems likely that the injury is serious.
LeBron James will undergo a reevaluation this coming week, per Clutch Points.
The Lakers have performed well during LeBron James' injury. With its superstar out of the lineup since the trade deadline, the team's record has dropped to 6-6. The situation is ideal for the Lakers, particularly since they're seeded No. 10 in the Western Conference, but given how badly LeBron James' former teams have done without him, a .500 record is not terrible.
LeBron James Injury Updated Divides Lakers Fans
Although many fans were pleased with the LeBron James injury update, others were irritated by the lack of information on when James will return.
Darvin Ham's announcement was met with skepticism from other sides. One Lakers fan expressed optimism on LeBron James' injury update: "Good news. Now let's get some wins under our belt so we can have a chance this season. I see Mo Bamba warming up without a boot."
Another fan shared his "realistic take" on LeBron James' return to the court: "He will likely be back earliest in Houston on 02-Apr, 5 games left in the regular season. 3-3 (win against ORL, OKC, CHI x1) until he returns and hopefully 4-1. That will put them 41-41 good enough to be in play-in."
On the other hand, there were less optimistic and made fun of the LeBron James injury update
One user posted: "This could literally mean he comes back the last game of the season lol."
User Abe Miranda tweeted: "That's exactly what I tell my boss...which reminds me I should've finished that like 5 years ago....hey don't judge me, I work for the government, and I consider that lighting fast.
That’s exactly what I tell my boss…which reminds me I should’ve finished that like 5 years ago….hey don’t judge me, I work for the government and I consider that lighting fast.
— Abe Miranda ⚡️ (@DarthVaber99) March 20, 2023
Austin Reaves Leads Lakers Win Against Magic
The LeBron James-less LA Lakers beat the Orlando Magic, 111-105. Powered by 35 points from Austin Reaves, the win put Los Angeles back in the Play-In Tournament.
The Lakers have moved up to the No. 10 spot and are now tied with the Minnesota Timberwolves at 35-37 in the league's standings, according to a Lakers Nation report.
Since Minnesota has beaten Los Angeles twice this season, they have the advantage in the tiebreaker. If the Lakers want to keep climbing the rankings in 2022-23, they must win the lone meeting between the two clubs.
With a victory against the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday, Los Angeles might move closer to the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds, but it'll still be a daunting challenge for the squad without their superstar LeBron James.
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