The first time LeBron James had suffered a groin injury he was out for the next 17 days. The setback happened on Christmas Day in 2018, during his first season with the Lakers. And Saturday night was the third time he got hit with it again as the Lakers took on the Celtics. The following effect? A 111-108 loss handed by the Brooklyn Nets.
After the Celtics game, LeBron didn’t sound too worried about his injury, and early reports suggested he’d only be out for a week or two. He admitted it felt similar to his 2018 groin strain but assured everyone this time it wasn’t nearly as serious.
It looks like he was right as it’s being reported he’s progressing well. And now he’s making his way back to L.A. to get some proper rest while the Lakers finish their road trip reports ESPN‘s Shams Charania. With two games left before they return home, he’ll take this opportunity to recover and avoid any unnecessary setbacks. But the 21x All-Star might be out for at least the next nine to ten games, pushing his return to around the three-week mark.
Lakers’ LeBron James has returned to Los Angeles, per medical recommendation, as he continues to progress well from a groin strain with the team finishing road trip Thursday in Milwaukee and Friday in Denver, league sources tell ESPN.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 12, 2025
Before the injury, he was putting up 25 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists per game while shooting over 51 percent from the field and nearly 38 percent from deep. Even in year 22, he is doing LeBron things.
JJ Redick should have enough firepower to stay afloat in the brutal Western Conference, but injuries are stacking up fast. James isn’t the only one sidelined—Jaxson Hayes, their much needed center, is also out.
Hayes has been nursing a right knee contusion, missing the last two games. He won’t suit up against the Bucks on Thursday either, which kicks off a back-to-back for L.A. The Lakers are in survival mode right now, hoping to keep things steady until their key players get back on the floor.
The Lakers won’t catch a break anytime soon, especially without the 4x MVP leading the charge. Their next two games? A brutal stretch against the Bucks and Nuggets, two teams with serious title aspirations. That Denver matchup is huge, considering L.A. is just one game behind Nikola Jokić and crew in the race for the No. 2 seed.
To make things even trickier, the Western Conference standings are a mess. The Lakers are locked in a tie with the Grizzlies and barely holding a one-game edge over the Rockets. Without their franchise star, sliding down the rankings feels almost inevitable.
That puts even more weight on Luka Dončić’s shoulders. He’s still figuring things out in L.A. after that blockbuster trade from Dallas, but there’s no time for growing pains. With LeBron sidelined, it’s on him to step up, take control of the offense, and keep the Lakers from slipping in the standings.
But against the Brooklyn Nets, frustration got the best of him.
Luka Doncic not happy with refereeing in absence of LeBron James
Luka Dončić had a rough night against the Nets, and frustration got the best of him. With LeBron James sidelined, the Lakers needed him to step up, but he struggled, shooting just 8-for-26 from the field despite finishing with 22 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists. To make matters worse, the officiating had him fuming—so much so that he even picked up a technical after arguing a call that actually went in his favor. “I’m not going to say anything, but I think everybody saw the game, so they know what happened,” he said.
Meanwhile, James sat at the end of the bench in a red cap, watching his team fight without him. At one point, he was even dribbling a ball during a stoppage—a sign his groin injury might not be too serious. He already downplayed its severity after Saturday’s game, saying it wasn’t as bad as the 2018 strain that sidelined him for 17 games.
Feb 27, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) celebrates with forward LeBron James (23) after making a basket during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images
The Lakers jumped out to a 15-point lead early but fell apart in the second quarter. Brooklyn blitzed Dončić, forcing the ball out of his hands, and the offense stalled. Austin Reaves also had a rough night, missing his first eight shots before finishing 3-for-14.
Despite big nights from Gabe Vincent (24 points) and rookie Dalton Knecht (19), the Lakers lost 111-108—dropping their second straight after an eight-game win streak. With LeBron still sidelined, the pressure on Dončić and Reaves isn’t letting up anytime soon. The offense needs to find a rhythm, and frustrations—whether from poor shooting or questionable officiating—can’t be an excuse.
The post LeBron James Bids Goodbye to Lakers Teammates as JJ Redick Suffers Another Crippling Blow Following Two Straight Losses appeared first on EssentiallySports.
