With LeBron James recovering, Luka has to lead the Lakers.
The much-anticipated partnership between Los Angeles Lakers stars LeBron James and Luka Doncic is on hold, with James set to be out for at least a week, if not longer.
The Lakers have decided to send him back to L.A. for medical treatment, ruling him out for the remainder of their road trip.
Shams Charania of ESPN broke the news on March 12 through a social media update.
“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,” said the ESPN analyst on X (formerly Twitter).
LeBron James’ groin injury is anticipated to keep him out for up to two weeks. As a result, he will miss upcoming matchups against the Milwaukee Bucks and Denver Nuggets, both of whom are strong playoff teams and title contenders.
James sustained the injury during a fourth-quarter rally against the Boston Celtics two games ago. He exited in the final period, remained sidelined for the rest of the game, and Los Angeles fell short at TD Garden.
He also sat out the next game against the struggling Brooklyn Nets, where the Lakers suffered a close loss, extending their losing streak to two games. Before James’ injury and the defeat in Boston, Los Angeles had been on an eight-game winning streak since acquiring Luka Doncic.
LeBron James and the Lakers facing the injury bug
The Lakers are once again facing a depleted roster as they search for their first win on this road trip. With a grueling schedule ahead every matchup becomes even more crucial.
On the defensive end, the Lakers could use the return of Hayes and Finney-Smith. While Hayes is set to miss at least one more game, the good news is that Finney-Smith is expected to be back in action.
The Bucks have added incentive in this matchup, as it marks Darvin Ham’s first time coaching against his former team. However, they’ll also be shorthanded, with Bobby Portis still serving his suspension.
Even after suffering a groin injury, what LeBron James has accomplished in his 22nd NBA season remains unparalleled. His durability has been remarkable, especially for a player in his age. James has suited up for 58 of the Lakers’ 63 games, missing only five.
With James sidelined, Rob Pelinka and the Lakers’ front office get a clearer look at the team’s future. Despite playing just 12 games in a Lakers uniform, Doncic has already embraced his role alongside James.
Both superstars are crucial to the team’s championship pursuit, and with LeBron out, Doncic must step up as a leader.
Without James for the next couple of weeks, the Lakers have a chance to evaluate their strengths and weaknesses before the playoffs. Gaining this insight could be crucial in shaping their strategy for a championship push.
