REPORT: Lakers Superstar LeBron James Expected To Miss “Weeks, Not Days” Due To Groin Injury

Report: Lakers' LeBron James Could Miss 'Weeks' After Groin Injury vs. Celtics

The Los Angeles Lakers’ eight-game winning streak in the LeBron James-Luka Doncic era came to an abrupt halt on Saturday night as the Boston Celtics secured a 111-101 victory at TD Garden. However, beyond the loss, the biggest concern for the Lakers was LeBron James’ injury, which forced him to leave the game late in the fourth quarter.

James headed to the locker room after scoring a tough bucket over Jaylen Brown. Shortly after, the Lakers ruled him out with a groin strain. Following the game, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin provided an update on James’ injury status, stating that the Lakers superstar is expected to miss “weeks, not days.”

“It is too early to project an accurate timetable for how long LeBron James could miss because of his left groin injury, sources told ESPN. However, one source said the initial thought is that it will sideline James for a matter of weeks, not a matter of days,” McMenamin reported.

James has been one of the most durable and productive players this season. He missed only four games before this injury. Against the Celtics, he nearly recorded a triple-double with 22 points, 14 rebounds, and nine assists in 35 minutes before his exit.

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Jovan Buha also acknowledged the worry surrounding James’ groin strain. But Buha reported that he admitted there isn’t much additional information yet from head coach JJ Redick.

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Meanwhile, Sports injury expert Dr. Evan Jeffries provided a potential recovery timeline. He estimated that James could miss between 1 and 2 weeks for a Grade I strain and 4 to 6 weeks for a more severe Grade II strain.

LeBron James Remains Optimistic Despite Injury Concern

Jayson Tatum and LeBron James (Photo by Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images)

Groin injuries have troubled LeBron James multiple times during his tenure with the Lakers. Given his age and the physical demands of the game, there is much concern about how this injury might impact him moving forward. Despite the worrying reports, LeBron James himself appeared to downplay the severity of the injury.

“Not much concern. Day-to-day, look at it each day and see if it gets better,” James told reporters.

However, with early indications suggesting a multi-week absence, the Lakers will need to adjust quickly. Luka Doncic will likely take on a heavier scoring and playmaking load, but without LeBron’s leadership, the team may face an uphill battle to maintain their position in the Western Conference standings.