Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is ready to get back onto the basketball court following a successful knee surgery.
James injured his MCL during Game 5 of the Lakers’ first-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves. While he played the remainder of the matchup, the injury would have sidelined for a significant amount of time, proving to be fatal to his team’s title hopes this season.
Nonetheless, James underwent surgery to repair the damaged MCL. As he continues to grow in age after 22 years in the league, it would be imperative for the veteran superstar to take care of his body.
James made a social media post via Instagram on Monday. It showed a video of him working out in a gym as he got shots up while being on the basketball court. In the post, he commented on how long it’s been since the injury and how excited he is to get back to training.
“Man it felt good to get back out there today for the first time since my MCL injury(Almost 8 weeks ago). Been at it with my rehab & training regiment to get back to form. Obviously not where I wanna be ultimately but off to a good start,” James said.
“D*** what a GREAT FEELING!! S/O my ♾️ brother @kevinlove for allowing me to crash his workout! And also S/O @cbrickley603 for always looking out when I’m in the city! 🙏🏾🫡 👑”
What lies ahead for LeBron James, Lakers
Getty LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers.
It is vital for the Lakers to get this positive update from LeBron James, making a big step in his rehab from the injury.
James continues to perform at a high level as one of the best players in the NBA, even at age 40. This past season saw him average 24.4 points, 8.2 assists and 7.8 rebounds per game after 70 appearances. He shot 51.3% from the field, including 37.6% from beyond the arc, and 78.2% from the free-throw line.
He will be busy this offseason, especially when it comes to his contract. The four-time NBA champion has a $52.6 million player option to decide on for the 2025-26 season. If he declines, he can negotiate a different deal with the Lakers to assist them in bolstering their depth and elevate them into serious title contention.
If he picks up the option, he will remain the highest-paid player on the Lakers squad going into next season. However, it would put financial restrictions on the team as they would go through the hardship of the second apron tax, which will hinder their ability to sign players or make trades.
James has been through ups and downs with the Lakers franchise. They missed the playoffs in 2019, then won the title in 2020 after acquiring star big man Anthony Davis. However, they lost in the first round the following year and missed the postseason once again in 2022. They rebounded with a West Finals run in 2023 but regressed with a first-round exit the next year.
James’ stint with the Lakers would still be a success as he brought them a title. However, he would still have time to bring one more championship to the franchise. This offseason will also allow him to gain more chemistry with Luka Doncic, a star tandem that Los Angeles will want to maximize with how they approach their roster this summer.
Lakers’ LeBron James Returns to Court After Successful Knee Surgery