The Lakers got a major jolt in the arm on Friday with the return of LeBron James, who missed 20 games over a six-week stretch due to an ankle injury. It was the longest injury-related absence in James’ Hall of Fame career.
Los Angeles lost to the Kings despite James’ return as he missed a potential game-winner in the fourth quarter. Nonetheless, LeBron looked good, recording 16 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, two steals and five turnovers in 32 minutes. James admitted he felt his injured ankle at times but was able to come out strong.
“For my first game in six weeks, I felt OK,” James said, per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “As far as my wind, I felt pretty good. As far as my ankle, it was a little tight at times, obviously. … But I came out unscathed and pretty good. So it’s a good start.”
James, 36, went on to make a surprising admission in regards to his health for the rest of his career. In his 18th NBA season, James has a lot of mileage on his body and while his performance continues to be strong, he admitted he will likely never be at full strength again.
“I knew I wasn’t going to get back to 100%. It’s impossible,” he said. “I don’t think I will ever get back to 100% in my career.”
The Lakers will hope James can be as close to 100% as possible as the team tries to finish strong heading into the postseason. The defending champions now have James and fellow superstar Anthony Davis back from injury. Los Angeles struggled in their absence, falling to a 36-27 record, good for fifth in the Western Conference.
“It’s only nine games left,” James said. “It’s just been … it’s been a hell of a season, obviously. … But we look forward to the challenge. It is what it is. This is the season, and we’ve got to make the most out of it.”
No sympathy at all for this guy. He is straight clown shoes
nobody care what steve st criollo (the knob) thinks!
Yes, people do
Can already hear the excuses why they won’t win, typical back door approach just like when he got blown out by warriors in 2018 and made up the hand injury. This guy is a gigantic turd
What does this even mean lmao. That Cavs team he dragged to the Finals was awful. Warriors were massive favorites. Sorry he couldn’t singlehandedly beat a team with 2 all Stars and 2 hall of famers.
you act like lebum doesnt have a superteam every year. he’s gonna use his ankle as an excuse for when Kawhi eliminates him
So LeBron is the only superstar in the NBA that isn’t allowed to have one fellow all star? He went to the Lakers without any guarantee and it’s not like they are a loaded team beyond him and AD. I love how the haters think their biased predictions are a talking point. In the real world Kawhi blew a 3-1 lead and was a complete no show in the end. LeBron finished the Nuggets up 3-1 no issues.
He was lucky just to get a fourth ring last year.
Because you said so? Wow that must make it true!
Next season
Lakers payroll
$120 million for 6 players
Add
Schroeder 23m
Harrell 15m
7 other players subtotal 17m
Total payroll 175 million
Luxury tax $100 million plus
Tucker and Caruso walk for nothing
Lakers won’t win anything next season
5th best team in West next season?
Schroder isn’t getting resigned. Probably sign and trade. more than like harrell gone. Caruso isn’t a necessary piece and tht is very limited offensively and not worth 15 million. Tht has a patented layup.. no jump shot and overdribbles
Sign and trade has hard cap issue.
Lakers are doomed if they let Schroeder and Harrell walk for nothing.
Keeping Tucker would be likely take the team to luxury tax land.
The best idea is to sign and trade all free agents for rookie contracts though
Example
Sign and trade Schroeder for Brunson
Is their a scenario via sign and trade schroder for Lonzo ball.. ball is with klutch and I’m not sure schroder is about rings but more about paycheck
Lakers will find a way via lebums Klutch Sports to get even more stars for cheap.. Lowry will go there for 900k lmao
tucker going nowhere
The guy is admitting that he’s getting old. I’d like to know how you guys feel when you emerge from your parents basement at 36 and sit back and look at how your body feels compared to when you were younger and what you’ve accomplished so far lol
You are 36, dude…it’s all relative…your 100% is behind you (athletically, not mentally)…still the best in the NBA overall. No doubt it feels like less now, coming off injury.
Crazy the amount of hate he gets, but I guess that comes with being one of the best ever.
People don’t hate him for how he plays basketball or the charitable work he does.. it’s for everything in between
That’s a weird thing to admit, someone as competitive as he is. Some gamesmanship pre-playoffs? Or is the mental toll of the pandemic that strong…time will tell.
Oh no, LeBron said a sentence. How awful!!!
Always gonna be haters. He’s a bit of a drama Queen. Also the best player of his generation. That simple.
But !!!!!!! —-
“I knew I wasn’t going to get back to 100%. It’s impossible,” he said. “I don’t think I will ever get back to 100% in my career.”
Or get back to a FINALS …… it’s Over
Hey wait a minute, now he’s downplaying, whereas just a few weeks ago Lebron tweeted “A thunderstorm is coming.” alluding to AD (and possibly) his eventual return.
Herein lies one more thing that separates MJ from Lebron …….. MJ had none of these drama, hype bits.
Everything Lebron does, seems to be (like what that anonymous agent once said) ……. “an obsession with creating a legacy instead of letting the legacy create itself.”
A very accurate statement about Lebron.