After LeBron James sprained his ankle in the Los Angeles Lakers’ contest on Sunday against the New Orleans Pelicans, he was unable to push the ball, play downhill or attack the basket, three aspects that make up a disproportionate amount of his offensive game.
L.A. blew a 23-point lead and lost to the Pelicans, a team it needed to beat in order to bolster its chances of reaching the play-in tournament, and a team it will most likely face there if they make it there.
Now, the Lakers are dealing with the double whammy of dropping to 10th place and dealing with yet another injury in a season that has been defined by key injuries.
Frank Vogel on the Lakers’ practice today: Anthony Davis went through a full, live practice for the first time since he suffered the mid-foot sprain. LeBron James used the practice time to undergo treatment on the swelling in his left ankle. Both are listed as doubtful for DAL
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) March 28, 2022
This is the fourth injury or ailment the four-time MVP has had this season. He suffered a mild ankle sprain towards the beginning of the season that caused him to miss two games, then an ab injury that sidelined him for eight contests.
Of course, he has also been dealing with a troublesome left knee over the past two months that has occasionally caused him to miss game action.
Anthony Davis has been inching close to a return to the Lakers’ lineup since his foot injury about six weeks ago. His activation cannot come soon enough.
All season, it has seemed like just as one Lakers star gets healthy and returns, another one suffers a new injury.