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It doesn’t sound like the Los Angeles Lakers will be getting LeBron James any time soon. While James is scheduled to be re-evaluated on Wednesday, it’s unlikely that he’ll return this week.
On Monday’s episode of “The Hoop Collective” podcast, Brian of Windhorst of ESPN reported that James is expected to miss at least one more week to recover from the groin strain he suffered on Christmas Day against the Golden State Warriors.
“LeBron is not getting that much better I know they say they’re going to re-evaluate him this week. I have been told it will be ... as of last week they were thinking it was going to be at least two weeks. He’s going to miss more games.”
Windhorst said it’s possible James could return sooner than that if things get “dire,” but realistically, he could see him returning against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Jan. 24.
This backs up the report by Shams Charania of The Athletic on Monday, in which he said James was also expected to miss at least three weeks.
“LeBron James’ agent Rich Paul told me that when he’s ready to go, he’ll go. They were given a three-week injury timetable when he first suffered the injury on Christmas Day, and if it takes longer, it takes longer, Paul said. Essentially, when LeBron James feels ready, when he feels good, when that groin is finally 100 percent, he will return. Groin injuries, like hamstrings, are difficult.”
The only difference is that Tuesday, when James will re-evaluated, will mark three weeks. Windhorst was told James could miss another week, which lines up for more with the update Luke Walton gave at practice on Monday.
Luke Walton on LeBron: “He got treatment and shots yesterday, he got treatment and shots today.” Walton was then asked if LeBron has been running, and said, “I don’t know if he ran today.” Then said “yeah” when asked if he’s done any running. Added: “He tells me he feels good.”
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) January 14, 2019
The Lakers have struggled to win games, even against lowly teams like the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers, without LeBron James. On the season, they’re 3-7 without him.
Between now and when James is expected to return, the Lakers will see the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Houston Rockets and the Golden State Warriors. Whether it’s a lineup change or a trade, the Lakers need to figure something out soon, because they're going to have to get by without their star a little longer.
For more Lakers talk, subscribe to the Silver Screen and Roll podcast feed on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or Google Podcasts. You can follow Christian on Twitter at @RadRivas.