Bummer: LeBron Is Reportedly Out For Multiple Weeks With A Foot Injury Just As The Lakers Are Gathering Momentum

Remember that whole 27-point comeback the Lakers just pulled off on Sunday to improve to 4-1 since they overhauled their roster and actually surrounded LeBron James with decent players? Turns out The King — that's right, The King — was playing through an injury for much of that rally in Dallas that was significant enough to sideline him indefinitely.

I assumed (unlike most) that LeBron wasn't milking it and was instead once again showing the physical toughness he's always exhibited. Having watched and appreciated this guy for a long time, I figured it was a minor thing that he'd find a way to work around and continue playing. Assumed he'd keep rolling along, because that's what LeBron often does.

Doesn't look like that's going to be the case here.

This blows. As much as I'll defend LeBron to the ends of the earth — gee, maybe he actually, you know, cares about basketball if he played through that significant of an injury for a team everyone can't wait to write off with unbridled jubilation — the hate-spewing and ignorance-fueled takes about him make for compelling basketball drama. The NBA is better when the Lakers are good and LeBron is healthy. Whether you love or hate LeBron and/or the iconic franchise he plays for, you have to admit you'd rather see LA contending for the playoffs in the West instead of, say, the T'Wolves or Jazz at this point.

Who knows, maybe the Lake Show can get it together sans LeBron and Anthony Davis can push himself to a new echelon of superstardom where the dominance he's flashing more and more these days becomes the norm. Since that insane win on Sunday came without D'Angelo Russell in the lineup — he's still nursing  a sprained ankle — perhaps there's hope that the Lakers can sneak into the play-in tournament with a decent showing to finish the season.

I'm not holding my breath, though. THIS DOES NOT BODE WELL...

Advanced analytics suggest that if the Lakers win ~37% of their games the rest of the way, they ain't making the playoffs and probably not the play-in. Even in his 20th NBA season, LeBron is still playing basketball at a higher level than most of his contemporaries can dream about. And that's in basically all facets of the game.

…Yet you'll have people dwelling on the fact that LeBron didn't close out on a late 3-pointer in that Mavs game. Fans who are supposed to support him the most are jumping to worst-case scenarios all over the place.

The worst possibility about LeBron is immediately assumed. This isn't an isolated incident. That video above has 1.8 MILLION views. Of a failed close-out that turned out to be inconsequential.

I'm sure LeBron haters will be quick to point out other instances of not giving 100% effort on the defensive end. Newsflash: Nobody fucking does in the NBA on a nightly basis. Not when they're going balls-out on offense just to keep the squad afloat. Kawhi is over here playing half-seasons even when he's healthy. LeBron, in his 20th season, did everything he could to play whenever possible.

Do people not understand that when he suffered the injury, LeBron literally said he heard something pop and was still gutting it out the entire time? When that live soundbite was broadcasted, I can't tell you how many Twitter accounts with weird-ass names immediately jumped to the conclusion that he was being baby-bawling drama king.

LeBron has been about the most durable superstar with the most longevity we've ever seen. When you factor in his style of play, heavy usage, appearances in international competitions and myriad deep playoff runs, it's unreal he's ticking along this well at this stage of his career. A fluky, non-contact injury seems to have taken him out for the home stretch.

Can only hope there's some chance LeBron can return if the Lakers grind their way to the play-in. Otherwise, it's all about resting up for next season and putting together one last push for a championship. At the rate LeBron has gotten banged up the past few years, it's fair to wonder whether 2024 will be it for him in terms of contending for titles in LA.

Twitter @MattFitz_gerald/TikTok