LeBron James injury update: Lakers star has tendon problems in right foot, will be reevaluated in three weeks

LeBron James is expected to be re-rated in three weeks thereafter announced the team that he has a tendon injury in his right foot. It was previously reported that James will not require surgery on his injured foot, per Turner Sports’ Chris Haynes. James’ return could depend on where the Los Angeles Lakers rank in the standings after the three-week checkpoint, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

The 38-year-old superstar injured his foot in the third quarter of Sunday’s win over the Dallas Mavericks but stayed in the game and finished the game with 26 points, eight rebounds and three assists. James helped the Lakers close a 27-point deficit and claim their biggest win in 21 years, but the good spirits faded shortly after. This is not a team that can afford to be without James for any length of time.

With James out of the lineup, Los Angeles lost 121-109 to the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday, a game in which they conceded 86 points in the paint and 47 points in the third quarter. After a 123-117 win against the undermanned Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, the Lakers are 30-33 and 11th in the Western Conference.

Seven of their next eight games are against teams battling for play-in/playoff placement: they host the Timberwolves on Friday, the Warriors on Sunday and the Grizzlies, Raptors and Knicks next week before heading to Houston and New Orleans directly meet and a home game against the Mavericks.

The Lakers have a 6-10 record without James this season. They got through an early period without him due to Davis’ incredible play, but he is only now back on form after missing almost two months himself.

Ideally, without James, they could lean on both Davis and recently acquired point guard D’Angelo Russell. However, Russell has missed three games in a row due to a sprained right ankle and said ESPN’s Dave McMenamin that he will be out against his former team on Friday.

Golden State is another of Russell’s former teams. When asked if he could be back for that matchup on Sunday, Russell told ESPN, “We’ll see once we get through Friday.”