The Los Angeles Lakers only have 21 regular season games remaining, and they may now have to play a significant number of them without LeBron James.
Shams Charania of The Athletic reported Monday that there is a fear James will miss an extended period of time with a right foot injury. Charania adds that the Lakers are bracing for his absence to last for multiple weeks.
The 38-year-old James had already been managing a foot injury for much of the season (albeit to his left foot). He then injured his right foot during Sunday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks. After going down, James appeared to be saying, “I heard it pop.”
🚨#Lakers superstar LeBron James said he heard his right ankle "pop" after this play late in the 3rd quarter vs. the #Mavs.
LeBron remained in the game but did have a noticeable limp post-game. We will monitor this at https://t.co/SANDkdLNP0 pic.twitter.com/bjIW9aWQIb
— Sports Injury Central (@SICscore) February 27, 2023
“I heard it pop”
– LeBron pic.twitter.com/bP9aLeRFvv
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 26, 2023
James was injured around the three-minute mark of the third quarter but remained in the game and played through it for another 13 minutes roughly (only taking a brief two-minute rest in the fourth before closing the game). While the Lakers won 111-108 in a epic come-from-behind victory, James was spotted walking with a pronounced limp after the game.
LeBron appears to limp post game following foot injury
(via @townbrad)pic.twitter.com/2kXbRfvSSL
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 27, 2023
The former MVP James had already been ruled out for Tuesday’s upcoming game against Memphis. With the Lakers still 29-32 (12th in the West), they need to win every game possible right now. Unfortunately though, James, who had already been severely struggling with his left foot, now has a bad injury to his right foot that threatens to end the team’s playoff hopes.
