LeBron James has made his highly anticipated return to action for the Los Angeles Lakers against the Chicago Bulls, coming off the bench and setting an incredible NBA landmark.
James, 38, has recovered from a right foot tendon injury that he suffered in late February against the Dallas Mavericks. The four-time MVP missed 13 games as a result of the layoff, heaping pressure on teammate Anthony Davis to perform.
The Lakers won eight of the 13 games in which James was absent, and are hoping to extend their three-game win streak to four with a victory over the Bulls on Sunday. And the Lakers’ chances have been boosted by James’ return, with the franchise big dog coming off the bench for only the second time in his 20-season NBA career, setting an incredible new landmark.
A consistent run of wins is what the Lakers need in order to make the playoffs. Missing the postseason for the second successive season would be a severely embarrassing outcome for the Lakers and James.
Currently the team is 37-37 and in eighth place in the Western Conference, just 1.5 games behind the Golden State Warriors in sixth, the last guaranteed playoff berth.
However, The Lakers are also just one game ahead of the Dallas Mavericks and two games ahead of the Utah Jazz. Both franchises are currently out of the play-in tournament.
Movement in the trade window has also helped steer the Lakers’ season back on course. The team acquired D'Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt and Rui Hachimura - all who have been significant upgrades to the roster.
After Sunday’s clash with the Bulls, the Lakers will travel to Chicago for a return fixture on March 30. The Lakers will then contest six more games, with the final coming on April 9 against Utah Jazz.
James is having a fine season despite missing 27 games through injury. He is averaging 29.5 points, 8.4 rebounds and 6.9 assists per game, while shooting 50.1 percent from the field and 30.8 percent from three.
