LeBron James’ comeback from a foot injury and personal matters may not be enough to solve all the Los Angeles Lakers’ problems this season.
While the Lakers secured a hard-fought 116-110 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, the four-time MVP made it clear that his foot injury is far from resolved.
Ongoing Foot Issues
The 39-year-old James opened up to reporters after the game, revealing that his foot injury continues to be a daily challenge.
“It’s not behind me,” he admitted.
“It’s an everyday thing.”
Despite dealing with this injury for years, James has still managed to play at an elite level, contributing across multiple areas of the game.
Stellar Stats Despite Injuries
Even with the ongoing injury, James has maintained impressive stats this season.
He’s averaging 9.1 assists and 8 rebounds per game—both of which are higher than his career averages of 7.4 and 7.5.
His scoring, at 22.8 points per game, is the lowest it’s been since his rookie year, but he’s still performing well in other aspects.
James is hitting 36.5% of his 3-pointers and 74.3% of his free throws, which are both improvements over his career marks.
A Solid Return to the Court
During his return on Sunday, James posted 18 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists.
However, he didn’t go into detail about the reasons for his previous absence, which Coach JJ Redick had previously described as “personal reasons.”
Despite the limited information about his time away, James seemed satisfied with his performance.
“I felt pretty good,” he said.
“It’s very rare throughout the course of the season where you can take advantage of the schedule, and I was able to do that the past week.”
Managing His Body and Mind
James also shared how he’s been managing his recovery.
The NBA’s oldest active player, who turns 40 on December 30, explained that he took extra days off to recover and refresh both mentally and physically.
“I felt my foot, felt my body… I did my pregame workout on that Sunday for the Portland game and decided it was probably best if I took that day off,” he said.
“It was great to take more time to get my mind, body, and everything where I wanted to be.”
Respecting the Toll of Longevity
Coach JJ Redick expressed understanding and respect for the emotional and physical toll that playing at a high level for so long can take on a player.
Redick, who played 15 years in the NBA, acknowledged that it’s hard to comprehend the sustained excellence of players like James, Chris Paul, and other legends like Tom Brady and Roger Federer.
He compared the challenge to running on empty after so many years of high performance.
Focused on Rehabbing and Training
During his time away from the court, James focused on rehabbing his foot and staying in shape for his return.
“It was a very easy decision for myself and for the team and for my trainer to be able to take advantage of those days,” he said.
“It was great.”
Lakers’ Current Standings
Currently, the Lakers are sitting in 10th place in the Western Conference with a 14-12 record.
While James continues to play at a high level, the team still has work to do if they want to climb higher in the standings and secure a playoff spot.
As James fights through his injury and manages the physical toll of his lengthy career, it remains to be seen how the Lakers will fare in the coming months.