Lakers’ LeBron James Sends 1-Word Message After Unfortunate Turn of Events

LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers have a lot on their plate to sort through this offseason. The 21-time All-Star was tuned into Game 7 of the NBA Finals all the same. What he saw left the basketball world shaken.

Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton suffered a non-contact injury to his lower right leg, per the team. He was ruled out, and the early fears are that he tore his Achilles.

“F***!!!!!!!!” James posted on X on June 22 in reaction to the visual.

“Injury Update: Tyrese Haliburton (right lower leg injury) will not return to tonight’s game,” the Pacers posted on X a short while after Haliburton was helped to the locker room.

He appears likely to have joined an unfortunate list.

“If Haliburton did indeed tear his Achilles, that would be the 8th Achilles tear of the season,” In Street Clothes’ Jeff Stots posted on X on June 22. “The previous high was 5 (14-15). The total doesn’t include Thanasis Antetokounmpo who tore his in the offseason or prospect Jalon Moore who was injured in a recent pre-draft workout.”

Haliburton’s father, John, confirmed just before half time that it was indeed a calf injury, certainly, much to the chagrin of the Lakers star, James, and many others.

LeBron James’ Injury Issues Have Plagued Lakers

James has never torn his Achilles, but he and the Lakers have navigated a series of ankle, foot, and calf injuries in the past few seasons, among other ailments. He has logged back-to-back seasons of 70-plus regular-season appearances.

He had gone four consecutive seasons without cracking the 70-appearance threshold before that, a streak that followed his 82-game campaign with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2017-18.

The Lakers are 56-78 without James on the floor in his tenure.

That is not wholly surprising, given the way teams are built around their star players. It does underscore the significance of the Lakers’ trade to acquire Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks at the 2025 deadline.

James’ future remains subject to speculation, especially with retirement an increasing possibility with each offseason.

The Lakers can take some solace in the fact that James is healthy heading into the summer.

Blockbuster Trade May Be Bad News for Lakers

Haliburton’s injury was a brutal turn to what was a tightly-contested game upon his exit, but it was hardly the most impactful news for Jame and the Lakers.

That would be the blockbuster trade sending Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns to the Houston Rockets. The Lakers went 2-1 against the Rockets during the 2024-25 regular season. However, their first two meetings were split with a total margin of plus-2 in LA’s favor.

Their third meeting was a 140-109 Lakers blowout win.

However, the Rockets were without several key contributors in that game, and definitely did not have Durant.

Durant has averaged 27.7 points on 61% true shooting and is 28-24 in his career against the Lakers. James is 24-19 against Durant. The latter has won four of their last five head-to-head matchups, though, including the last two against the Lakers.