LeBron James will be re-evaluated by the Los Angeles Lakers in “approximately three weeks” after being diagnosed with an injured tendon in his right foot.
Multiple outlets reported Thursday that James would not require surgery, but the Lakers did not address surgery when making the announcement.
“LeBron James has been evaluated by Lakers team physicians and medical staff, and it has been determined that he has sustained a right foot tendon injury,” the team said.
If James progresses quickly enough to play in a home game March 22 against the Phoenix Suns, there would be 10 games left on the regular season schedule.
Los Angeles plays five consecutive games on the road from March 29-April 5 before hosting the Suns again on April 7.
James, 38, scored 26 points in the Lakers’ 111-108 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, but he twisted his right foot when he stepped on an opponent’s foot in the third quarter. He finished the game but was clearly in pain in the locker room.
The 19-time All-Star is averaging 29.5 points, 8.4 rebounds and 6.9 assists in 47 games this season.
After a 2-10 start, the Lakers are 30-33 on the season and have climbed into 11th place in the Western Conference, one game out of the final spot in the play-in round. However, with 19 games left — 14 of them against conference foes — the Lakers are still in the hunt for a guaranteed playoff spot.
The sixth and final playoff berth currently is held by the Los Angeles Clippers, who are just 2.5 games ahead of their in-city rivals.
The Lakers begin a five-game homestand on Friday against the Minnesota Timberwolves, who sit eighth in the conference and 1.5 games up on the Lakers.
–Field Level Media
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