After suffering a groin injury against the Boston Celtics two weeks ago, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has been out of action and has missed each of the team's last five games. Though the Lakers are 3-2 in those games, it is fair to assume they want James back on the court as soon as possible.
As the end of the regular season approaches, the Lakers are still fighting for the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. With a 43-25 record, they are currently one game behind the Houston Rockets in the standings. Additionally, they are just four games ahead of the No. 8 seed Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Lakers are looking to build momentum and earn the No. 2 seed before the end of the season, which is why James' absence is brutal for them. However, head coach JJ Redick recently provided an update on the four-time champion that might make fans happy.
Since James has already been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Milwaukee Bucks, he will not have another opportunity to suit up until Saturday when the Lakers go up against the Chicago Bulls. Fortunately for James and the Lakers, Redick is "hopeful" that he will make his return to the court on Saturday.
Lakers coach JJ Redick said that he's "hopeful" that LeBron James and Rui Hachimura will play on Saturday against the Chicago Bulls
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) March 21, 2025
James' return will provide a big boost for the Lakers as they look to end the season on a high note. If he does not make his return against the Bulls, James' next opportunity to suit up will be on Monday against the Orlando Magic. Regardless, it seems that the Lakers are getting their star back sooner rather than later, which bodes well for their success.
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This story was originally published March 20, 2025 at 6:17 PM.