The Lakers will continue to rely on Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook into the start of the 2021-22 season as they move forward without the services of their best player.
Los Angeles star LeBron James missed the final two weeks of competition due to a stomach strain. The four-time NBA MVP had to sit out two of the first eight games of the season before picking up an injury against the Rockets on Nov.
What’s next for James? Here’s everything we know about his injury and the latest news on when he could return to court.
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What is LeBron James’ injury?
The Lakers listed James out with rectal abdominis tension on the injury report. That group of muscles “located between the ribs and the pubic bone in front of the pelvis,” per BetterHealth.com, and its main function is “moving the body between the ribcage and the pelvis.”
Tension in the abdominal muscles can cause sharp pain and make it difficult to stretch the muscles.
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How long will LeBron James be sidelined?
Initially, James was expected to be out for two weeks, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, who reported on November 4 that the Lakers are taking a cautious approach to his injury.
“If this is the playoffs, can James push to play? Maybe,” Charania said. “But James picked up an injury in Tuesday’s win over the Rockets, and the Lakers want to be careful and manage the injury in this NBA season’s marathon.”
However, Tim DiFranceco, former Lakers executive coach and top strength, to Bill Oram of The Athletic that even a minor stress can take weeks to heal.
“Especially the way he plays, it’s hard for me to see him back in under four weeks,” DiFranceco said. “Then again, he’s a different guy, so I’m not going to put anything through him. … These are such delicate wounds that can respond to rest. and relieve pain quickly, but they are very susceptible to re-injury if they return too quickly.”
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Lakers upcoming schedule 2021-22
| Day | Protest | Time (ET) / Result | National Television |
| November 4 | compared to Thunder | L, 107-104 | – |
| November 6 | at Trail Blazers | L, 105-90 | NBA TV |
| November 8 | compared to wasps | W, 126-123 (OT) | NBA TV |
| November 10 | compared to heat | W, 120-117 (OT) | ESPN |
| November 12 | compared to Timberwolves | L, 107-83 | – |
| November 14 | compared to Spurs | W, 114-106 | – |
| November 15th | versus Bulls | L, 121-103 | NBA TV |
| November 17 | at Bucks | 7:30 pm | ESPN |
| November 19 | at the Celtics | 7:30 pm | ESPN |
LeBron James stats for the 2021-22 season
- 24.8 points per game
- 5.5 rebounds per game
- 7.0 assists per game
- 2.3 steals per game
- 4.2 spins per game
- 37.0 minutes per game
- Shoot 46.7 percent
- 34.7 percent shooting 3 points
- 78.3 percent free throws
