Los Angeles Lakers head coach Luke Walton shared some encouraging news regarding injured forward LeBron James, who has missed 16 straight games with a strained groin.

“I don’t think he’s going full out yet. Haven’t really seen him drive the lane and tomahawk dunk on anyone but he’s moving, he’s moving well and he’s getting up and down the court and he’s shooting well,” said Walton, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin. “He doesn’t look like he’s hurting at all when he moves.”

James is slowly gearing toward a return to the court, with the Lakers hopeful to have him back by Thursday's game against the L.A. Clippers, one that could shave a game of difference between the two teams and inch the Lakers closer to the eighth and final playoff spot in a ruthless Western Conference.

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The Lakers are a game-and-a-half back of the in-city rival Clippers, snowballing from the fourth spot after James went down with this injury during a Christmas Day drumming of the Golden State Warriors.

James will have a couple of days to get his wind back and make strides for a potential return. If unable, it could potentially set up a poetic return on the road against the Warriors on Saturday on the same court he first suffered the strain.

Los Angeles has gone 6-10 during James' 16-game absence, the longest of his 16-year career and one that is sure to test his endurance and pain management over the course of the last 30-plus games of the season.