Lakers brace for uncertainty after LeBron James injures groin against Clippers
LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers wipes his face against the LA Clippers in the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers reads after a three point shot against the LA Clippers in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks up toward the video board against the LA Clippers in the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Paul George #13 of the LA Clippers controls the ball against Max Christie #10 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
LA Clippers owner Steve Balmer reacts after a basket against the LA Clippers in the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Head coach Darvin Ham talks with Max Christie #10 of the Los Angeles Lakers against the LA Clippers in the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Troy Brown Jr. #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket against the LA Clippers in the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers walks toward his bench against the LA Clippers in the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Los Angeles Lakers bench reacts after a basket against the LA Clippers in the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Paul George #13 of the LA Clippers reacts after a basket against the Los Angeles Lakers in the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Troy Brown Jr. #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket against the LA Clippers in the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket against the LA Clippers in the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Paul George #13 of the LA Clippers drives to the basket against Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
LA Clippers owner Steve Balmer looks on in the first half of a NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the LA Clippers at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Paul George #13 of the LA Clippers drives to the basket against Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers stretches prior to a NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the LA Clippers at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers reaches for the ball against Paul George #13 of the LA Clippers in the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts toward the officials against the LA Clippers in the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives rot the basket against Reggie Jackson #1 of the LA Clippers in the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket against Ivica Zubac #40 of the LA Clippers in the second half of a NBA basketball game at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Norman Powell #24 of the LA Clippers drivers to the basket against Wenyen Gabriel #35 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers enter the court prior to a NBA basketball game again the LA Clippers at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Paul George #13 of the LA Clippers goes up for the rebound against Patrick Beverley #21 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Head coach Darvin Ham of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts against the LA Clippers in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Norman Powell #24 of the LA Clippers drivers to the basket against Wenyen Gabriel #35 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots against the LA Clippers in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Paul George #13 of the LA Clippers drives to the basket against Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
John Wall #11 of the LA Clippers reacts after a foul and basket against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Paul George #13 of the LA Clippers drives to the basket against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of a NBA basketball game at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
LOS ANGELES — For plenty of Lakers’ fans, Wednesday night harkened to one of the worst Christmas gifts they ever got.
With 5:41 remaining in an eventual loss to the Clippers, LeBron James walked gingerly off the court, grasping at his groin and wincing with his steps. The 37-year-old headed down the tunnel to the locker room and didn’t return.
The possibility that James could miss extended time would feel like a death knell for the 2-9 Lakers, even at this early juncture. But when asked how this latest injury compared to the torn left groin he suffered in 2018 against Golden State on Christmas Day, he provided a small measure of relief: “It’s not as bad.”
Still, James described “a little spasm or strain” in his left groin, the same area that kept him out of action for 17 straight games in the 2018-19 season. The Lakers’ leading scorer had a hitch in his step as he walked to his press conference, slight as it was, and acknowledged that he was expecting to get medical imaging of the injury on Thursday.
It’s more than enough evidence for the Lakers to brace for James missing more time. He missed Monday’s game in Utah with a left foot injury that has bugged him for most of the season. James was defiant when asked about how he’s navigated his health this year, even though that’s been a growing concern given that he’s missed 53 games in his previous two seasons.
“I’ve missed one game. I’ve been fine,” he said. “You guys act like I’ve sat out every game this season. I’ve missed one game and to be completely honest, if it was a playoff game, I probably would have played even though my foot was acting up.”
For much of his career, James’ availability has been his hallmark. And even when he’s been available this season, the Lakers have struggled anyway. Without him, even the normally unshakably optimistic admitted that James’ injury hit at a particularly inopportune moment.
“I mean it’s just a lot of adversity,” he said. “He’s been trying his heart out just to be there for us and play at a high level. I thought he had it going really, really well tonight. But it just is something that it’s the NBA season, man. You gotta be ready for a little bit of everything.”
Indeed, James got out to maybe his best start of the season. Coming into the contest with his lowest efficiency numbers since his rookie season, James made his first 6 shots on his way to a team-best 30 points.
LeBron James, Lonnie Walker IV, Patrick Beverley all miss Lakers’ game in Utah
James’ biggest gripe wasn’t even necessarily that he got hurt. When asked about the game’s physicality, he took issue with only getting four free throw attempts. He’s averaging a career-low 4.9, and according to James, referees have told him they’ve missed opponents fouling him.
“I gotta learn how to flop or something,” he said. “Seriously. I need to learn how to do that. Swipe my head back or do something to get to the free-throw line because the ‘I missed it’ is getting too repetitive. It’s three games straight of ‘I missed it.’”
The Lakers started Wenyen Gabriel in James’ place in Utah – so far, Ham has been reluctant to move Russell Westbrook from his bench role even when starters aren’t available.
While Ham said he would lean on the entire team to pick up the slack for James, Anthony Davis said he would need to personally shoulder more responsibility.
“The mindset switches to just going out, being aggressive and trying to find ways to help the team win,” he said. “Whether it’s more shots or know it’s my job to make these guys better. It’s my job anyway. But it’s heightened when someone like LeBron is out with everything he can do on the floor.”
