LeBron James heads to the locker room with an apparent injury vs. the Clippers.
LOS ANGELES — LeBron James walked into the interview room without showing a noticeable limp. Moments later, the Lakers’ star expressed optimism about his health.
“I feel good, besides the injury,” James said.
The Lakers said James has left leg soreness after he missed the final 5:41, and that team doctors will further evaluate him on Thursday. James walked toward the entrance tunnel after grabbing his groin area and showing discomfort during Wednesday’s 114-101 loss to the LA Clippers.
But James said his current injury did not feel similar to when he tore his left groin in the 2018-19 season, an ailment that sidelined him for 17 consecutive games.
“I didn’t do anything extreme on the play,” James said. “When I landed, I felt a little spasm or strain in my groin.”
LeBron James remains hopeful to be in the lineup on Friday against Sacramento despite walking out with a sore left leg pic.twitter.com/yVAcQf3I9X
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) November 10, 2022
James reported feeling sluggish last week while dealing with a non-COVID illness that kept him in bed for extended periods of time. He also missed the Lakers’ loss in Utah on Monday after feeling soreness in his left foot. Yet, James downplayed whether his latest ailment suggested he might have to deal with injuries throughout his 20th NBA season, let alone affect his availability for Friday’s game against the Sacramento Kings (10:30 ET, NBA League Pass).
“You guys act like I sat out every game this season. I missed one game,” said James, who had 30 points, eight rebounds and five assists vs. the Clippers. “If it was a playoff game, I probably would’ve played. My foot was acting up. But I’ve played every game. I’ll get around [the clock] treatment for 24 hours. If it’s OK on Friday, I’ll be in the lineup. So, it’s not an issue.”
James downplayed the Lakers’ start as well, even as Lakers (2-9) are 14th in the Western Conference and have lost four straight. Russell Westbrook had 14 points (on 6-for-15 shooting), nine assists and four turnovers vs. the Clippers and the Lakers shot 31.2% on 3-pointers in the game. Additionally, the Clippers outscored the Lakers by double digits in the first (38-21) and third quarter (33-23), respectively.
With LeBron James potentially missing time due to injury, the road to success for the 2-9 Lakers is looking more and more arduous.
Yet, James preached patience both because of the team’s small sample size and the need to incorporate new rotations under first-year coach Darvin Ham.
“He’s telling everybody to stay together and to stay connected,” said Lakers forward Anthony Davis, who had 21 points and nine rebounds. “He’s being a leader and making sure we’re all in a great head space and trying not to let us fall to the wayside where guys are mentally checking out because of our record.”
Ham called for Davis, Westbrook and the team’s role players to elevate their play to account for James’ potential absence. But James stressed they all just “need to be themselves” and remained bullish about his own play. Although he’s averaging a career-low in 3-point shooting (21%), he was 4-for-9 from deep against the Clippers.
“I never worry about that because I put the work in,” said James, who is averaging 24.9 ppg, 8.8 rpg and 6.9 apg this season. “I’m actually not worried about my body either, because I put the work in. My body will let me know when it’s time to go, and I’ll be ready to go.”
Ham said he encouraged James to “do what you need to do” and to “take care of your body.” But he also deferred to the 37-year-old James on how he will manage his regimen.
“He’s a professional and at the top of the food chain in so many areas. One of those areas is being responsible and proactive with how he presents himself physically to be able to play at the level he plays at,” Ham said. “He’s the last guy I worry about with taking care of his body with the proper nutrition, rest and exercise. He’s a five-star general.”
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Mark Medina is a senior writer/analyst for NBA.com. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.
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