BOSTON — In the aftermath of Los Angeles Lakers’ 111-101 defeat to the Boston Celtics on Saturday night, LeBron James remained calm despite a groin strain sustained during the closing minutes of the game. Although the injury seemed significant, James wasn’t in a hurry to specify how quickly he could return, as the Lakers aim to continue their momentum in the standings.
“There’s really not much concern,” James remarked. “I’m just taking it day-by-day. Each day I’ll assess how it’s healing and decide the appropriate course of action moving forward.”
James left the game with 6:44 on the clock after attempting to contest a layup by Jaylen Brown. He exhibited slight discomfort as he headed to the bench during a subsequent timeout, ultimately departing for the locker room escorted by trainers. Before his exit, James posted solid numbers—22 points, 14 rebounds, and nine assists.
Reflecting on his past, James thought back to his debut season with the Lakers in 2018, when he suffered a similar groin injury during a Christmas game against the Golden State Warriors, causing him to miss 17 games. That injury lingered, affecting him for much of the season. “I’ve experienced this before, so I know what kind of injury we are facing,” James explained.
The reassuring news is that James doesn’t perceive this latest setback to be as severe as the previous one in 2018. He also recalled Anthony Davis, his former teammate, who went through a groin injury during his initial game in Dallas following his trade involving Luka Doncic. “It’s crazy. It made me think of AD,” James mentioned.
Luka Doncic, who is familiar with James’ situation, advised that he should ensure the injury heals properly. “Naturally, he should take his time,” Doncic said. “While these aren’t the worst injuries, they are definitely hard to manage.”
In the interim, James shows trust in his teammates to step up in his absence if necessary. The Lakers, who had been on an eight-game winning streak before meeting Boston, aim to stay competitive in the Western Conference. Following Saturday’s contest, their record fell to 40-22, placing them third behind Denver. The team is prepping for a demanding stretch ahead.
The Lakers’ current four-game road trip continues with a game against Brooklyn on Monday night. They will then confront Milwaukee and Denver on Thursday and Friday, respectively. After these matchups, Los Angeles will host a four-game homestand beginning March 16 against Phoenix, wrapping up with return visits from the Nuggets and Bucks.
“We need to focus on playing our style, regardless of who is active,” emphasized James. “This season has seen numerous lineup shifts, particularly over the past six weeks, but our approach remains unchanged.”
