The Los Angeles Lakers announced LeBron James would miss the season’s final two games due to a sprained ankle he suffered on March 27.
Lakers say LeBron James will miss the remainder of the season for continued healing of his ankle sprain and expected full recovery.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 8, 2022
The four-time MVP is expected to make a full recovery over the offseason. The Lakers (31-49) were eliminated from the play-in tournament after the Suns beat them on Tuesday. Their loss guaranteed the Spurs would have a spot as the No. 10 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. The Lakers have the Thunder and Nuggets left to play during the regular season.
James has missed five of the last six games since spraining his left ankle against the Pelicans nearly two weeks ago. The King averaged 30.3 points per game in 56 appearances, the most a player has averaged in his 19th season ever, and the most James has averaged since his third season in the NBA (31.4). Because James played 56 games, he isn’t eligible to claim the scoring title if Joel Embiid, the League’s current scoring leader, were to dip below him.
When James played, the Lakers went 25-31. This season will be the first time since his rookie year with the Cavs that a James-led team will finish with a below .500 record in the games he played. The Lakers will fail to make the playoffs in James’ four-year tenure with the team for the second time.
“He’s done everything in his power, and to his ability, beyond what can be reasonably asked of a team’s best player,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel told ESPN when asked about James’ season last month. “He’s done it on the court, he’s done it with his leadership and keeping everybody engaged in the fight.
“And I don’t think anybody can say anything other than he’s given everything that he can give to this year’s team.”
