LeBron James’ Plan Revealed for Bucks and Nuggets Games After Groin Injury
The highly anticipated partnership between Los Angeles Lakers stars LeBron James and Luka Doncic has been temporarily postponed, with James expected to be sidelined for at least a week, if not longer. The Lakers have decided to send him back to Los Angeles for medical treatment, which will rule him out for the rest of their road trip.
Shams Charania of ESPN shared the news on March 12 via a social media update.
“LeBron James has returned to Los Angeles, as per medical recommendation, while continuing to recover from a groin strain, with the Lakers finishing their road trip on Thursday in Milwaukee and Friday in Denver, league sources tell ESPN,” Charania wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
James’ groin injury is expected to keep him out for up to two weeks, meaning he will miss upcoming games against the Milwaukee Bucks and Denver Nuggets, both strong playoff teams and championship contenders.
The injury occurred during a fourth-quarter comeback attempt against the Boston Celtics two games ago. James left the game during the final period, was unable to return, and the Lakers ultimately lost at TD Garden.
He also missed the next game against the struggling Brooklyn Nets, where the Lakers suffered another close defeat, extending their losing streak to two games. Before the injury and the Boston loss, Los Angeles had been on an eight-game winning streak since acquiring Luka Doncic.
Lakers Confront Injury Woes
The Lakers are once again facing a decimated roster as they look for their first win on this road trip. With a tough schedule ahead, each game becomes more important.
On defense, the Lakers could benefit from the return of Hayes and Finney-Smith. While Hayes will miss at least one more game, Finney-Smith is expected to return soon.
The Bucks are motivated in this matchup, as it will be Darvin Ham’s first time coaching against his former team. However, they will also be missing key players, as Bobby Portis continues to serve his suspension.
Even with the groin injury, LeBron James’ achievements in his 22nd NBA season are unmatched. His durability has been impressive, especially at his age. James has played in 58 of the Lakers’ 63 games, missing only five.
With James sidelined, Lakers GM Rob Pelinka and the front office can take a closer look at the team’s future. Despite playing just 12 games with the Lakers, Luka Doncic has already adjusted to playing alongside James. Both superstars are essential to the Lakers’ championship hopes, and now, with LeBron out, Doncic will need to step up as a leader.
With James out for the next couple of weeks, the Lakers have an opportunity to assess their strengths and weaknesses before the playoffs. This evaluation could be vital in determining their strategy for a potential championship run.