LeBron James is seven appearances away from becoming eligible to extend his record to 21 All-NBA selections. Unfortunately, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar has been battling a groin injury that could potentially threaten his eligibility for the award.
Thankfully, just when it seemed as though momentum would be paused, the Lakers received an injury update that should have fans smiling from ear to ear.
James went down with the injury on Mar. 8 against the Boston Celtics. The immediate recovery timeline provided was one-to-two weeks, which unfortunately meant he was likely to miss one of the most grueling stretches of the 2024-25 season.
Thankfully, Shams Charania of ESPN reported that James has already returned to Los Angeles and is progressing well from the groin strain.
Lakers' LeBron James has returned to Los Angeles, per medical recommendation, as he continues to progress well from a groin strain with the team finishing road trip Thursday in Milwaukee and Friday in Denver, league sources tell ESPN.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 12, 2025
In other words: There's at least an outside chance that James could play when the Lakers return home for a Sunday, Mar. 16 clash with the Phoenix Suns.
LeBron James progressing well in recovery from groin strain
Los Angeles will have a tough time overcoming the Milwaukee Bucks on Mar. 13 and the Denver Nuggets on Mar. 14 in a brutal road back-to-back. The good news, however, is that James could return by the time they face the Suns on Sunday.
The Lakers have lost ground after suffering losses to Boston and Brooklyn, but playing only three full games without James would be a dream scenario.
Perhaps this isn't entirely shocking, as the one-to-week injury absence projection falls in line with a Sunday return date. It would be eight days after the injury initially occurred, which means James may have at least found a way to play without pain.
Only time will tell if this is a rushed return, but the Lakers will certainly be happy to have James back on the court as quickly as possible.
James is currently averaging 25.0 points, 8.5 assists, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.3 three-point field goals made per game on .517/.384/.770 shooting. He's No. 6 in the NBA in assists, No. 12 in points, and No. 23 in rebounds.
Beyond the numbers, James has hit the ground running with relatively new teammate Luka Doncic—a partnership that had been leading Los Angeles to remarkable success.
The Lakers are 8-3 when both Doncic and James play, with the context of the losses being as significant as the wins themselves. One of the three losses was the game during which James was injured, while the other two were within their first three games as teammates.
Prior to James' injury, the Lakers on a seven-game winning streak when both played. Thankfully, they'll have a chance to extend that success sooner than later.
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