LeBron James has been one of the most durable players in NBA history. He has played in 1,550 games over his career and is currently in his 22nd season in the league.
James’ ability to stay on the court for so long is impressive, but he isn’t invincible. Throughout his career, injuries have sidelined him for extended periods. Now, it looks like he could be dealing with another setback.
LeBron James Sidelined for 1-2 Weeks
James will be sidelined for at least one to two weeks with a groin strain, an injury he suffered in the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics. The Los Angeles Lakers went on to lose the game after James left, ending an eight-game winning streak.
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is expected to miss at least 1-to-2 weeks with a groin strain, sources tell ESPN. James will wait for the groin injury to calm down over the next 24 hours and receive another evaluation. pic.twitter.com/17mWxsaXN3
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 9, 2025
This injury appears to be less serious than the groin strain that kept him out for a combined 25 games during the 2018-19 season, his first year with the Lakers.
After the game, James said he doesn’t believe this injury is as bad as the one in 2018-19, explaining that his past experience helps him understand what to expect. He also said he isn’t too concerned about it.
“Not much concern. Obviously, I’m day-to-day. I’ll look at it each day and see if it gets better and take the proper measures to see what I need to do moving forward … I’ve been there before, and I know what type of injury we’re dealing with.”
Biggest Injuries of James’ Career
James is typically healthy throughout a season, though his time with the Lakers has included nagging injuries at various points. During his first stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2003-10, his longest absence due to injury was a sprained left index finger that sidelined him for five games.
James was extremely durable during his Miami Heat tenure, with no major injuries to note. In his second stint with Cleveland, his longest absence came during an eight-game stretch when a combination of injuries — sore left knee, foot and back — kept him out.
His time with the Lakers has been a different story, with the 2018-19 groin strain serving as the first real sign that Father Time might be catching up.
The most significant injury of James’ career came during the 2020-21 season when a collision with Solomon Hill resulted in a high ankle sprain, forcing him to miss 26 games.
Ankle injuries, abdominal strains and knee swelling sidelined him during the 2021-22 season. An ankle and foot injury in 2022-23 also kept him out for 19 games. While James does miss games for rest and load management as he ages, these injuries have been among the most significant in his career.
With this latest groin injury, James doesn’t seem too concerned. But after 22 years in the league and turning 40 this past December, the Lakers should be cautious with his recovery.