Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) is suffering from an ankle sprain. Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Lakers coach: LeBron James' new injury is 'maybe biggest blow to our psyche'

By Adam Stites | Last updated 3/29/22

The Los Angeles Lakers have not provided much information on the severity of the ankle sprain suffered by four-time NBA MVP LeBron James, but coach Frank Vogel made it sound serious when he spoke to reporters Tuesday.

James, 37, was ruled out of the Lakers' Tuesday night game against the Dallas Mavericks after rolling it Sunday night in a 116-108 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans.

Los Angeles already lost James for a couple stretches due to abdominal and knee injuries, and the team has been without Anthony Davis for more than a month due to a foot sprain. Still, Vogel said the latest injury for James may be the toughest for the team to deal with.

Frank Vogel calls the injury to LeBron James "the latest and maybe biggest blow to our psyche," which doesn't exactly hint at an imminent return.
— Bill Oram (@billoram) March 29, 2022

The Lakers have won just five of their last 20 games and are in jeopardy of missing the playoffs with only eight games left to play. The team is currently 31-43, just a half-game better than the San Antonio Spurs for tenth place and the final spot in the Western Conference Play-In Tournament.

James is averaging an NBA-leading 30.1 points per game with 8.2 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game. To qualify for a scoring title, a player must appear in at least 58 games. James has played in 55.

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