After winning their first four games after the All-Star break, the Los Angeles Lakers suffered a 99-94 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday. But more than the loss, the Lakers were dealt another blow when LeBron James went down with an injury during the game and did not return.
James was diagnosed with a high ankle sprain and will be out indefinitely, which will be challenging for the defending champions to overcome considering that All-Star big man Anthony Davis also remains out due to injury. While X-rays on his right ankle were negative, the team is still waiting for MRI to know how long he’ll be out.
X-rays negative on LeBron James’ right ankle, source tells ESPN. MRI results still pending.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 20, 2021
But while the team and their fans wait for reports regarding the extent of James’ injury, Dr. Jesse Morse, a sports medicine and regenerative medicine specialist and co-owner of the Fantasy Doctors, offered his own explanation regarding the injury. In a video posted on TikTok, Morse explains that the high ankle sprain is a “tough injury to come back from,” and that it is different from a lateral ankle sprain that usually takes one to two weeks to heal.
Morse said that the earliest that James can return is three weeks, which he said would be the best-case scenario. He then gave examples of NFL players who suffered similar injuries this season and how long it took them to recover. He gave New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas to Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey as examples of players who suffered these injuries, and it took them three to six weeks to return.
A three to six-week absence for James, paired with Davis’ absence, could mean a tough road ahead for the Lakers, and could potentially change the playoff picture in the Western Conference. This also means that for at least a few weeks, James’ and Davis’ teammates will need to step up as they recover for their title defense in the postseason.
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