Report: LeBron James ’Not Close’ to Return From Injury

While James avoided surgery on his injured foot, there’s a question as to whether or not the Lakers star will be ready for a postseason run when the playoffs start up next month.

“LeBron is not close to returning from what I am told,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on his Hoop Collective podcast. “I know that everyone said the three weeks, but I think it was very clear that three weeks is when he was going to be given an official re-evaluation. It didn’t mean he was coming back in three weeks. 

“I know LeBron has played through injuries in the past, but I’m not 100% sure this is an injury you can play through. Remember a couple years ago when he had that nasty high ankle sprain when Solomon Hill rolled up on him from behind, and it was a wrecking ball to that Lakers season and he came back for the playoffs and was nowhere near himself. And then basically admitted afterwards that he shouldn’t have been playing and then completely shut down for the whole summer just to get that ankle right. I wouldn’t rule out that he couldn’t limp back in for the playoffs like he did there but he wasn’t himself so I don’t know what the Lakers can count on.”

The Lakers are currently 34–36 on the season and the No. 9 seed in the West, which would put them in the play-in tournament if the season ended today.