Is LeBron James’ Foot Issue Serious? Some Say Yes

February 16, 2025

Lakers star LeBron James didn’t play in his first NBA All-Star Game in 20 years, a late scratch because of a foot and ankle issue. And some around the NBA say they’ve been led to believe the issue isn’t exactly minor.

James, 40, told reporters in San Francisco that he wanted to play but was missing the game due to “ankle and foot discomfort.” He managed to play in the Lakers’ most recent game, a loss at Utah, though he was listed as “probable” on the injury report leading up to that game. He also missed last weekend’s win over Indiana with the same injury.

So the issue has been around, it seems, for the past couple of seasons, and on and off again this season. He last missed an All-Star Game in 2004, his rookie year.

As one source told Hoops Wire, it must have been really bugging him to miss his first All-Star Game as a 40-something.

“I was hoping it would feel a lot better this morning, but it was not where I wanted it to be,” James said of the ankle, via Dave McMenamin of ESPN.

Several league sources speculated that James’ injury is something he’ll be dealing with for the rest of the season. Others said it likely requires extended time off, and time off that James may not be willing to take as he aims to help new acquisition Luka Doncic fit alongside himself and the rest of the Lakers.

“With 30 games left and us trying to make a playoff push in the wild, wild West, I felt like it was very important for me to kind of take care of myself and understand what’s coming on [down the stretch],” James told reporters.

James is averaging 24.3 points on 51.6 percent shooting, including 39.5 percent on 3-pointers, as well as 9.0 assists and 7.7 rebounds this season. He has played in 48 of the Lakers 52 games.

Los Angeles (32-20) entered the break in fifth place in the Western Conference, just 1.5 games behind Houston for fourth, and two ahead of the sixth-place LA Clippers.

For the record, James said he is hopeful of playing in the Lakers’ next game, at home vs. Charlotte on Wednesday.