Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is expected to miss at least one to two weeks after sustaining a groin strain. The injury occurred during Saturday's game against the Boston Celtics, where James exited with 6:44 remaining in the fourth quarter. Despite his absence, the Lakers maintain their position as the third seed in the Western Conference, but will need to adjust their lineup and strategy in his absence.
James has been a consistent presence for the Lakers, playing in 58 of their 62 games this season. He has averaged 25 points on 51.7% shooting, including 38.4% from beyond the arc, along with 8.5 assists and 8.2 rebounds. His performance has been instrumental in the Lakers' success thus far.
The Lakers are approaching James' recovery with caution, particularly given his history with groin injuries. In the 2018-19 season, James suffered a torn groin on Christmas Day, which sidelined him for 17 games. Reflecting on his current injury, James remarked on his familiarity with such setbacks.
"I've been there before, and I know what type of injury you're dealing with" – LeBron James
The Lakers are prepared to be without their star player for a period and will carefully manage his recovery. James himself downplayed the severity of the injury, expressing minimal concern and indicating a day-to-day treatment approach. He plans to wait for the injury to calm down before undergoing another evaluation.
The team will need to adapt quickly to fill the void left by James' absence. While his groin strain is not considered serious, the Lakers will prioritize his full recovery to ensure his readiness for future games.
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