Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham speculated on Monday that LA's All-Star power forward LeBron James might be back from his three-game layoff tonight, at home against the Pelicans. Unfortunately, that may not be the case after all.
Marc Stein reports that the 38-year-old, 19-time All-Star is still dealing with what the team continues to call a sore left ankle, but what may be in reality be something that vacillates around the whole foot. LBJ is considered merely questionable to suit up this evening at Crypto.com Arena.
His frontcourt partner Anthony Davis is listed as probable to play, as he continues to recover from a right foot stress injury that cost him five-and-a-half weeks of primo action earlier this season.
Rookie shooting guard Max Christie has been assigned to get in some reps with the Lakers' NBAGL affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, where he will join two-way players Scotty Pippen Jr. and Cole Swider.
Pippen, by the way will be joining James for All-Star Weekend in Salt Lake City (assuming James's foot is well enough for All-Star Weekend in Salt Lake City, anyway). The 6'1" point guard out of Vanderbilt will partake in Friday's Rising Stars Game as one of seven G League reps.
According to a recent league injury report, two-way rookie E.J. Liddell is out for the year as he recuperates from a right ACL injury. Lottery pick Dyson Daniels is sidelined with a sprained right ankle. Injury-prone All-Star Zion Williamson is, you guessed it, still injured. Starting guard CJ McCollum is questionable with a sprained right ankle. Maybe it's time NOLA overhauled its medical staff?
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