LeBron James returns to the Lakers is being considered a 'day-to-day' situation.
The basketball star left the Lakers game Christmas Day against the Golden State Warriors in the second quarter with a strained groin. Some feared that James had torn a muscle — an injury that can take months to heal properly — but an MRI confirmed that the area was merely strained.
However, the Lakers confirmed that James will miss the Lakers game tonight against Sacramento. James remained in Los Angeles where he is undergoing rehab for the injury,
"Obviously, we want (James) back soon as possible. But we also will be very cautious when we bring him back," Lakers head coach Luke Walton said after Tuesday's game.
Sources told ESPN that James' return could be complicated due to James having never experienced a groin injury as severe as the one sustained Tuesday.
The expectation is that the Lakers will remain very cautious about rushing James' return to the court, and give the athlete time to understand how his body needs to heal, .
James has suited up for every Lakers game this season and played 156 consecutive games — including postseason contests. This year, James averages 27.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 7.1 assists. On Wednesday, he was named the Associated Press' Male Athlete of the Year for the third time.
Golden State star Steph Curry told Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated that he expects James will miss at least a week. Curry sustained a similar injury on Nov. 8 and missed the next 11 games with the Warriors.
"You got to take those first four or five days, that was what my experience was, to make sure you don’t do any more damage," Curry said. "You have to let the healing process start. That is one you can’t really rush. That is how I felt because it was such a delicate area.”
“The biggest frustration is that you get to a point where you are pain-free but you still have to be a little bit more cautious. I don’t know the severity [of LeBron’s injury], but becoming pain-free is just one step. And then you have to ramp up your load on the court to make sure everything you do won’t set you back. That is the one thing that you can’t afford with that injury, is to keep reinjuring it," Curry continued.
James previously strained his groin in December 2013 while playing for the Miami Heat. At the time, he missed one game. But James was 24 when that injury took place. He will turn 34 on Sunday.
“The biggest frustration is that you get to a point where you are pain-free but you still have to be a little bit more cautious. I don’t know the severity [of LeBron’s injury], but becoming pain-free is just one step. And then you have to ramp up your load on the court to make sure everything you do won’t set you back. That is the one thing that you can’t afford with that injury, is to keep reinjuring it," Curry continued.
James previously strained his groin in December 2013 while playing for the Miami Heat. At the time, he missed one game. But James was 24 when that injury took place. He will turn 34 on Sunday.
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