Lakers star forward LeBron James said he did not have his right foot injury evaluated on Thursday and there is “no target date for my return,” shooting down earlier suggestions.
Multiple reports cited sources in saying James is targeting a return sometime in the final three games (April 7-9). He has not played since the first game after the All-Star Break in late February.
James attempted to clarify things in a tweet.
“There wasn’t an evaluation today and there hasn’t been any target date for my return,” he wrote. “I’m just working around the clock, every day (3X a day) to give myself to best chance of coming back full strength whenever that is. God bless y’all sources. I speak for myself!”
Meanwhile, the Lakers released a statement saying that James has returned to on-court activities and is on a plan of “gradual basketball movement progression.”
Per Dave McMenamin and Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, there is optimism that James could indeed play the final “few” games of the regular season. The Lakers host the Suns, Clippers and Jazz, respectively, to close the season.
They are currently in the thick of the air-tight Western Conference playoffs race at 36-37. That has them in 10th place, but just two games back of the fifth-place Clippers.
James, 38, is averaging 29.5 points, 8.4 rebounds and 6.9 assists in 47 games.
There wasn’t an evaluation today and there hasn’t been any target date for my return. I’m just working around the clock, every day(3X a day) to give myself to best chance of coming back full strength whenever that is. God bless y’all sources. ??♂️ I speak for myself!
— LeBron James (@KingJames) March 23, 2023
Looking for the latest NBA Insider News & Rumors?
Be sure to follow Hoops Wire on TWITTER and FACEBOOK for breaking NBA News and Rumors for all 30 teams!
