LeBron James (ankle) returns after 20-game absence
LeBron James is averaging 25.4 ppg, 7.9 rpg and 7.9 apg this season.
The Los Angeles Lakers could have superstar forward LeBron James back in the mix for the team’s game against the Sacramento Kings tonight (10:30 ET, NBA TV).
He has officially been upgraded to available. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that James planned to test the right ankle injury before the game. During Frank Vogel’s pregame media availability, the Lakers’ coach said that “it’s time for [LeBron] to return to the lineup” and that there would be no minutes restriction on their All-NBA linchpin.
Frank Vogel says LeBron said “it’s time for him to return to the lineup … so we’re excited to have him back.” Vogel says no minutes restriction for LeBron.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) May 1, 2021
The Lakers, at 36-26, are currently the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference and have 10 games left in their season (including Friday night’s game). They trail the No. 4-seeded Denver Nuggets by 5.5 games, but are up just 1.0 games on the No. 6-seeded Dallas Mavericks.
James’ return would be a definite boon for the Lakers, who recently saw fellow frontcourt star Anthony Davis return to the lineup on April 22 after he missed more than two months with right calf and heel issues.
James suffered his injury — a high right ankle sprain — on March 20 against the Atlanta Hawks and was ruled out indefinitely shortly thereafter.
James had missed just one game this season, when a left ankle sprain kept him out against the Kings in the final game before the All-Star break. He hasn’t missed significant time since a hamstring injury cost him 17 straight games midway through the 2018-19 season.
The Lakers have gone 8-12 during James’ absence.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
