LeBron James has been a beacon of good health and durability throughout his career, but even he was unable to avoid missing time after suffering a left knee injury in this year's NBA playoffs. Fortunately, according to James, his recovery is going well, even if he's still not quite where he wants to be.
“Like I said last episode, it’s been a hell of a lot better. It’s getting better, though, it’s getting better," said James on the 'Mind the Game' podcast. "That’s the most challenging thing. Even though I can’t do much as far as like lower body stuff, I’m still like in the weight room, still getting in upper body. The one thing I am able to do a little bit is ride like a stationary bike just to kind of keep the blood flowing and things of that nature, keep the flexibility as much as possible in the knee. But I’m not a guy that likes to sit around. I have a lot of energy and I hate sitting around, so this has definitely been, almost two weeks after the season, they always tell you to take time off, and I’m just not that guy. I’m going crazy right now, for sure.”
The NBA playoffs were riddled with injuries this year, and it hit the Los Angeles Lakers at the worst time. Against the Minnesota Timberwolves in round two, LeBron James went down on a contact play with Donte DiVincenzo, and it pretty much eliminated any hope of a comeback win to extend the series.
LeBron, who works hard to ensure his durability, has never missed a playoff game, and he rarely misses games in the regular season. In the 2024-25 campaign, at 40 years old, James played all but 12 games for the Lakers with averages of 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game on 51.3% shooting. He was healthy until the second round against the Timberwolves, when the Lakers' season took a turn for the worse.
In Game 5 of the series, James went down with what was later diagnosed as a Grade 2 MCL sprain with a recovery time of 3-5 weeks. The Lakers were eliminated before LeBron missed a game, but he says he would not have played again even if the Lakers managed to extend the series. He also said that it was a pain he had never felt before.
Going into a critical offseason, LeBron and his health will be at the center of everything the Lakers do. As he and Luka Doncic prepare for their first full season together, Rob Pelinka has already committed to building them the best roster possible.
The plan starts with adding a center and then building up the supporting cast so that James can take more of a backseat in his 23rd season. If Luka and other role-players can fulfill their roles, James can play out the final stretch of his career in a way that enhances his legacy.
However it ends, health is the most important thing for LeBron, and his latest knee injury has already cost the Lakers a potential playoff run. Now that he's getting stronger and feeling good again, he can get back to the gym and ensure that he stays one step ahead of the competition.
