The Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated by the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 6 of their Western Conference first-round series on Wednesday. However, their championship hopes might have been dashed even if they had won that game.
LeBron James suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee during the Lakers’ season-ending loss, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN. The injury would have ruled James out for Game 7 and put his availability for the team’s next series in serious doubt.
Story filed to https://t.co/oAsD1rYqjW: LeBron James suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee from his collision with Donte DiVincenzo in Wednesday’s Game 5, a league source told ESPN. The injury entails a 3-5 week recovery timeline.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) May 2, 2025
James suffered the injury with 8:39 left in the fourth quarter after knocking knees with Donte DiVincenzo. He briefly left the game, but did ultimately return.
Who knew Donte Divincenzo was so strong?? Lebron looks like he hit a brick wall and has left the game pic.twitter.com/7aVw7QyEsR
— Rate the Refs (@Rate_the_Refs) May 1, 2025
James was held to 5 points on 2/7 shooting in the fourth quarter as the Lakers were outscored 22-16. The fact that he was playing while seriously hurt might offer some context as to why he struggled so much.
For the Lakers, losing James for up to a month would have been devastating, even if they had managed to stay alive for Game 7. The 40-year-old has played in 292 consecutive playoff games without sitting out, but a hypothetical Game 7 would have marked the end of that streak.
Even if it was not the cause of the injury, this might also raise even more questions about the controversial strategy coach JJ Redick deployed at the end of Game 4.
Presumably, James will have ample time to heal and be ready to go for the start of the 2025-26 season, assuming he returns for another year as expected. The Lakers are still putting a lot on his shoulders, though, which is why improving the team around him will be so important this summer.
