1 . On Sunday, Lakers star LeBron James suffered a high ankle sprain in a loss to the Atlanta Hawks.
On Sunday, Lakers star LeBron James suffered a high ankle sprain in a loss to the Atlanta Hawks. The injury occurred when James went to the ground after stepping on Hawks forward Solomon Hill's foot while attempting to dribble around him. James immediately grabbed his right ankle in pain and had to be helped off the court by his teammates. It is not yet known how long James will be sidelined for, but with the Lakers already struggling to stay afloat in the Western Conference standings, they can ill-afford to be without their leader for an extended period of time. This is especially true with the team set to embark on a tough six-game road trip starting on Tuesday. James has been carrying the Lakers this season, averaging 25.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game. He has been especially efficient lately, shooting 51.3% from the field and 46.9% from three-point range over his last 10 games. The Lakers will need to find a way to replace his production if they want to have any chance of making the playoffs. In the short-term, expect players like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Kyle Kuzma, and Markieff Morris to see increased roles. All three players will likely see their minutes increase while James is sidelined. Caldwell-Pope is the most likely candidate to start in James' place, and he will need to step up in a big way if the Lakers are going to stay competitive.
2. James was forced to leave the game in the third quarter and did not return.
LeBron James suffered a high ankle sprain in the third quarter of the Lakers' game against the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday night and did not return. The severity of the injury is not yet known, but it is likely to keep James out for at least a few weeks. This is a significant blow to the Lakers, who are already without Anthony Davis (calf) and have been relying heavily on James to carry them through this difficult stretch. James was visibly in pain after rolling his ankle while trying to defend a possession late in the third quarter. He immediately left the game and was taken to the locker room for further evaluation. The Lakers announced that James would not return to the game, and he was later seen leaving the arena on crutches. This is a devastating loss for the Lakers, who were just starting to get healthy after a string of injuries. They will now have to rely even more on their young core of players to step up in James' absence.
3. An MRI on Monday confirmed the severity of the injury and James is now out indefinitely.
An MRI on Monday confirmed the severity of the injury suffered by Lakers star LeBron James during their game against the Atlanta Hawks. The MRI revealed that James has a high ankle sprain and he is now out indefinitely. This is a huge blow for the Lakers, who were already without Anthony Davis for this game. James was leading the team in scoring, averaging 25.4 points per game. He is also the team's leader in assists, averaging 8.0 per game. Without James, the Lakers will struggle to score points and create plays. They will need other players to step up in his absence. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will likely see an increase in playing time and will be expected to score more points. Other players like Rajon Rondo and Alex Caruso will need to step up and create plays for their teammates. The Lakers will also have to rely on their defense more, as they will not be able to score as easily without James. They will need to get stops and force turnovers to create scoring opportunities. This is a difficult situation for the Lakers, but they will need to find a way to win without their star player. Hopefully James can recover quickly and be back on the court soon.
4. This is a huge blow to the Lakers, who are already without Anthony Davis for the foreseeable future.
This is a huge blow to the Lakers, who are already without Anthony Davis for the foreseeable future. Losing both LeBron James and Anthony Davis for an extended period of time would be devastating for the team, and it would likely mean that they would miss out on the playoffs. The Lakers are currently in fourth place in the Western Conference, and if they were to lose both James and Davis for an extended period of time, it is highly likely that they would fall out of the playoff race. This would be a massive disappointment for a team that was expected to contend for a championship this season.
5. James has been carrying the team this season, averaging 25.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game.
It's been a tough season for the Los Angeles Lakers. They started out strong, but injuries and COVID-19 protocols have kept them from really finding their groove. One player who has been carrying the team throughout all of this is LeBron James. James has been averaging an impressive 25.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game this season. He's been the one consistent bright spot on a team that has otherwise struggled. Unfortunately, James went down with a high ankle sprain in their last game and is now out indefinitely. This is a huge blow to the Lakers, who will now be without their best player for an unknown amount of time. It's going to be a tough road ahead for them, but they'll have to find a way to keep winning without James.
6. The Lakers will now have to rely even more on role players like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Kyle Kuzma.
With Lakers star LeBron James suffering a high ankle sprain, the team will now have to rely even more on role players like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Kyle Kuzma. James is the team's leading scorer, averaging 25.7 points per game, and his absence will be felt on both ends of the court. Caldwell-Pope and Kuzma will have to step up in James' absence, and they will likely see an increase in minutes and touches. Both players are capable scorers, but they will have to shoulder a heavier load offensively with James out. On the defensive end, the Lakers will miss James' size and strength, as well as his ability to defend multiple positions. Role players like Caldwell-Pope and Kuzma will have to step up in James' absence, and the team will have to hope they can hold their own until he returns. The Lakers have depth and talent, but James is their best player and leader, and his absence will be felt throughout the organization.
7. It is unclear when James will be able to return, but the Lakers will need him healthy if they want to make a deep playoff run.
LeBron James is one of the best basketball players in the world. He was drafted first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003 and has gone on to win three NBA Championships, four NBA MVP Awards, and three Finals MVP Awards. James is also a two-time Olympic gold medalist. James was injured on March 20th, 2021, when he suffered a high ankle sprain in a game against the Atlanta Hawks. The injury occurred when James stepped on the foot of Hawks' player Solomon Hill. James was helped off the court and was unable to put any weight on his right leg. It is unclear when James will be able to return, but the Lakers will need him healthy if they want to make a deep playoff run. James is one of the best players in the NBA and is a big reason why the Lakers are one of the favorites to win the NBA Championship. Without James, the Lakers will have to rely on other players to step up and fill the void. Players like Anthony Davis, Kyle Kuzma, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will need to step up and play big minutes. The Lakers will also need to hope that players like Rajon Rondo and Wesley Matthews can stay healthy. The Lakers are still a very good team without James, but they will need him if they want to win a championship. James is one of the best players in the world and the Lakers will need him at his best if they want to win it all.
It's a tough break for James and the Lakers, who will now have to lean on their other star players to pick up the slack in his absence. The silver lining is that James has been playing some of the best basketball of his career lately, and this injury will give him a chance to rest and recover before the playoffs.