Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James offered a heartfelt message to NBA referee Tony Brown on Monday after news broke that he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Brown, who's been officiated over 1,000 games across 19 seasons, will begin treatment immediately with the hope of returning to the hardwood next season.

James obviously is familiar with Brown as well after refereeing his first NBA Finals last year in Orlando when the Lakers lifted the Larry O'Brien Trophy. Therefore, the King clearly feels a bit of a connection with the veteran official.

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As for LeBron, he continues to nurse an ankle injury that's kept him out for quite some time. But, the Lakers forward is aiming for a return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Knicks.

Despite their struggles lately, LA is coming off a massive win over the surging Phoenix Suns on Sunday night. Funny enough, they could actually end up being the Lakers' first-round opponent, depending on how things shape up in the Play-In Tournament.

LA is currently in seventh place in the West with a 38-30 record and after losing the tiebreaker to both Dallas and Portland, it seems likely that the Play-In is a harsh reality. But with James almost back and AD starting to dominate again, there's no telling what the Lakers are capable of, even if a harder road to another championship lays ahead.

As for Tony Brown, best wishes to him and his family in these tough times.