It might be some time before LeBron James returns to the court for the Los Angeles Lakers. The star forward strained his groin during the Lakers’ game against the Boston Celtics on March 8.
Naturally, the 40-year-old’s injury sparked concern, especially given that a groin issue caused him to miss a significant portion of his first season in L.A.
However, James is steadily working his way back.
NBA Insider Shams Charania Shares Crucial LeBron James Injury Update
While James has been sidelined this past week, NBA insider Shams Charania revealed that he may be out for at least another week.
“I’m told LeBron James is actually having his first workout since that groin strain last weekend. He’s having his first on-court workout in Los Angeles here today,” Charania said on ABC NBA Countdown.
Reporting for ABC NBA Countdown: LeBron James has his first on-court workout today – with ESPN footage – plus a Lakers return timetable update: pic.twitter.com/xTeiMRblnp
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 16, 2025
“He is expected, though, to miss at least another week. His exact return will be based on how his body responds to increased activity over the coming days and the coming week. The Lakers will be very cautious. He’s 40 years old.
“This is a soft tissue injury. We know he’s played heavy minutes this season. He’s coming off the Olympics. So, look for him to miss at least another week of game action.”
Charania also provided additional injury updates, revealing that Jaxson Hayes and Rui Hachimura are progressing in their recoveries.
What Did James Say About His Injury?
Though fans have expressed concern, James remains confident about his return and recovery.
“Not much concern. Obviously, I’m day-to-day. I’ll look at it each day and see if it gets better. We’ll take the proper measures to see what we need to do moving forward.”
This injury, however, isn’t as serious as the one he suffered in 2018.
That groin injury, which occurred shortly after his move to L.A., ended James’ streak of 13 consecutive postseason appearances. However, he came back with a vengeance, leading the Lakers to an NBA Championship in the 2019-20 season.
Even at 40, James continues to perform at an elite level, averaging 25 points, 8.2 rebounds and 8.5 assists per game.
The Lakers have struggled without James on the floor. Including their 111-101 loss to the Celtics, the team has dropped four straight games in his absence. Previously ranked No. 2 in the Western Conference, the Lakers have now slipped to No. 5 with a 40-25 record ahead of their March 16 matchup against the Phoenix Suns.