The Los Angeles Lakers are in the middle of a nightmarish stretch. They have lost seven of their last ten and are not guaranteed to make the postseason in the loaded Western Conference. They are just one game ahead of the Spurs in 11th, and LeBron James has not played well. Things could get significantly worse.
King James played each of the first 23 games before missing the Dec. 8 win over the rebuilding Blazers. The Lakers got a needed break thanks to the NBA Cup. It gave LeBron a chance to rest and recover, but it was not enough.
Shams Charania reported James would miss Friday’s game against the Timberwolves. He hopes to return on Sunday versus Ja Morant and the rival Grizzlies, but it will depend on his injury. With LeBron out, things could go from bad to worse for the Lakers.
The Lakers have struggled without LeBron James since he arrived in LA
Fans know LeBron has been the engine of the Lakers since arriving in 2018. The franchise is 28-37 without King James since 2022 and is 51-72 in his absence over his time with the franchise.
That 41.4 winning percentage over multiple games could sink the Lakers' season. The Spurs are currently 12-12 and 11th in the West. Sacramento is just 0.5 games behind San Antonio, and both teams are pushing for a postseason berth.
LeBron turns 40 in a few weeks. Hearing him deal with foot soreness that has not gone away during the team’s week off is not a positive sign. This could be a lingering issue that forces him to miss time periodically throughout the long season. Getting 60 games from LeBron may not be enough to get the Lakers into the Play-In Tournament.
The trade rumors will grow louder with more struggles. If the Lakers slip out of the top ten, there will be calls to trade James. LeBron holds a no-trade clause and controls the situation. Does he want to finish his career on a fringe playoff team? It is fair to wonder after all his success.
This injury comes at the worst possible time for the Lakers and could take their season from bad to a nightmare. Los Angeles has holes to fill before the trade deadline, but cannot replace LeBron. If James misses significant time, the franchise cannot recover.
His injury is worth monitoring. LeBron James has not looked right in recent games, and this foot injury may be to blame. Does rest get him back on track? Will this be a problem all season? There are tons of questions and not many answers at this stage, but fans should be worried. Things are already bad, and the Los Angeles Lakers cannot afford for them to get worse.