The Los Angeles Lakers have had a difficult start to the season, thanks in part to the fact that LeBron James has only played six games thus far. He missed two games early in the season due to a sprained ankle and has been out since November 2 with an abdominal strain.
Fortunately for the Lakers, the four-time champion might return as soon as this week. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, as the Los Angeles Lakers prepare for a five-game road trip this week, there is “increasing hope” that James will return on Friday against the Boston Celtics.
There's growing optimism that LeBron James could make his return to the Lakers vs. Boston on Friday (ESPN, 7:30 PM), sources tell ESPN. James has been out two weeks with an abdominal strain. Lakers start five-game road trip in Milwaukee on Wednesday.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 16, 2021
James has been “progressing nicely” in his on-court exercises, though he has yet to be a full participant in practice, according to head coach Frank Vogel. Both of them will be prerequisites for LeBron to return to the floor, and it appears that he will be able to do it in time for the Boston game.
While the 36-year-old LeBron is no longer at the top of his game, his return to the Lakers will be a pleasant sight. He’s still averaging 24.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, and seven assists per game, and he has a game-controlling ability that few others in the league have. It’s no surprise that their offence has been 8.4 points per 100 possessions better with him on the floor than with him off and to say the Lakers are struggling without him is an understatement, as they have given up double-digit leads twice to one of the worst teams in the NBA, and any time Westbrook and James are on the court together is wasted time, as they both need to improve their chemistry to win the championship.
