On Feb. 26, the Los Angeles Lakers scored a big road win over the Dallas Mavericks, but they lost LeBron James to a right foot injury.
After James spent several days reportedly consulting with doctors, the team announced he had a tendon injury and that he would be reevaluated in a few weeks. Reports surfaced a few days ago that Los Angeles was hoping to have him back for the last few days of the regular season, but he unexpectedly returned in Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bulls, which was earlier than anyone could’ve anticipated lately.
He was somewhat rusty, but overall he did fine, as he played 30 minutes off the bench and scored an efficient 19 points to go along with eight rebounds and three assists.
The Lakers were tight-lipped about the nature of James’ injury, but after Sunday’s game, James was candid about the nature of his ailment.
LeBron James says his foot injury was actually a torn tendon, via @jovanbuha.
The doctors said he healed from the injury faster than “they’ve ever seen.” pic.twitter.com/Kq97NEkpRH
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) March 26, 2023
A torn tendon in one’s foot can take as long as 12 weeks to heal. Instead, James missed “only” four weeks, which makes one wonder how he was able to return so quickly.
Teammate Dennis Schroder implied recently that James was nearing a return and that the four-time MVP had seen a doctor in Germany, a nation that has become known for cutting-edge treatments such as Regenokine.
James admitted that surgery was recommended
The Lakers superstar told reporters after Sunday’s game that two doctors recommended he have surgery on his injured tendon, which would’ve knocked him out for the rest of this season.
When asked why he had decided against surgery, James gave a whimsical answer.
Two doctors recommended season-ending surgery to Lebron, but then he went to see the “LeBron James of feet” and James determined he’d be able to return, per @jovanbuha #NBA #Lakers #LakeShow pic.twitter.com/g9N28mblpL
— TheColdWire.com (@thecoldwire) March 26, 2023
He also said he may need to have the ailment operated on this offseason.
Regardless, unless he re-aggravates the injury, he is now back for the Lakers, which means they will not have any excuse to miss the playoffs for the second year in a row.
