LeBron James is making progress with the knee injury he suffered in the Lakers‘ final playoff game.
In a recent edition of his “Mind the Game” podcast with Steve Nash, James stated that his left MCL sprain is “getting better” (hat tip to Corey Hansford of Lakers Nation). He adds that the most difficult part of the process is having to remain relatively inactive while the knee heals.
“That’s the most challenging thing,” James said. “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.”
James remained in the news this week by earning second-team All-NBA honors. He turned in an unprecedented campaign for a 40-year-old — averaging 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists in 70 games — and received All-NBA recognition for the 21st straight year.
“ALL NBA at 40!! Low key crazy to me right now! Sitting here watching the playoffs just thinking about it,” James tweeted. “Blessed beyond I can even imagine.”
James has a $52.6MM player option for next season, but in the aftermath of the Lakers’ playoff loss, he expressed uncertainty about whether he plans to continue playing, and it appears that stance hasn’t changed. His agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, wasn’t able to offer any insight into James’ plans during a recent appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, per Kurt Helin of NBC Sports.
Helin states that the expectation around the league is that James will be back for at least another year, as he was energized by the chance to play alongside his son, Bronny James, and to team up with Luka Doncic. Whatever James’ decision turns out to be, Paul indicated that he won’t rush into it.
“I have no idea, zero. Normally our process is, kind of weigh everything and see how he’s feeling and all those type of things,” Paul said. “… Same process it’s been for the last I don’t know how many years. … He’ll come around to what he’s thinking at some point and we’ll kind of go over some things and go from there.”
Steph played through this in the 2016 finals, next
Funny he couldn’t play through a grade one hammy this year. Arron Gordon played through a grade two.
Yet Aaron Gordon did nothing impactful that game and his team had no chance at winning, should have sat out lmao
Is that the excuse for the worst finals loss of all time?
Never, just a fact that he played through an injury and Iguodala and Bogut got hurt. Nothing wrong with the truth right?
So if we’re talking about the truth then we must also be talking about how he only got his first ring because Kyrie and Love got hurt and wouldn’t have gotten rings 2 & 3 without KD coming in to rescue him after gag his guts out blowing a 3-1 lead. If we’re going to tell the whole truth that is
How is it true that he wouldnt have won rings 2 and 3? Thats actually called a hypothetical situation. Truth is what happened lol.
Also, yeah they did benefit from injuries in 2015, exactly how Cleveland did in 2016.
Comparing Iguodala and Bogut injuries to Kyrie and Love is the equivalent of comparing Timofey Mozgov and Iman Shumpert being hurt in 2015 with Draymond and Klay hurt in 2016. Not even close to the same.
Also Bogut got hurt in the 3rd quarter of game 5 and Iggy was hurt in game 6. Love didn’t play at all and Kyrie played one game in 2015.
As for 2017 and 2018 okay will stick to what happened. The warriors needed a player better than Curry because if they ran it back they would have lost again so they went out and got a better player than Curry. KD then proceeded to carry him to the next two rings just like Shaq did with early Kobe.
Then when best player got hurt in 2019 and the warriors were back to Curry being the best player how did that turn out? Oh yeah they lost.
I dont understand you because you reshape the reality to fit your narrative. In 2019 the Warriors were literally playing Alfonzo McKinnie and Quin Cook because they got couldnt build a good roster with their salary cap. Also, in the 17 and 18 finals, Cleveland doubled Steph a lot more than KD or any other player. Why wouldnt you double the best player? Makes zero sense.
Also, without Bogut they were left playing Festus Ezeli and Anderson Varejao. Reminder that prime Anderson wasnt considered enough help for LeBron alongside 2 other all stars, but his old version is help for Steph?
AND Iguodala was Finals MVP the prior year, even if not deserved, he was a huge piece of that team. Way more valuable than Kevin Love for example.
It’s not reshaping the narrative it’s being honest about what actually happened. The injuries to Love and Kyrie were far more impactful to Cleveland in 2015 the iggy and Bogut in 2016. For one love and Kyrie were the 2nd and 3rd best players for Cleveland, Iggy was the 4th best and Bogut was like 6th or 7th. Also you conveniently leave out that Love and Kyrie played a combined 1 game. Bogut got hurt after halftime of game 5 and Iggy got hurt in game 6.
I don’t know maybe it’s too much to expect the unanimous MVP with a team record of 73-9 with 2 other hall of famers all playing to not blow a 3-1 lead. You are making my point for me that curry road KD’s bandwagon if the 4th and 7th best players going out after being up 3-1 causes you to lose. Because we all know that a if LeBron had blow a 3-1 lead and anyone made the excuse that Tristan Thompson and iman shumpert got hurt after he was already up 3-1 that would be brought up regularly a decade later.
As far as doubling Steph you talk about me reshaping the narrative lol Cleveland doubled Steph the most because Kyrie is a cone on defense. They didn’t double KD as much why because 6 time first team all defensive team Lebron was the primary defender. It doesn’t take a genius to understand that cavs we’re going to rely on lebron handling his match up and send help to Kyrie.
You can not like it all you want at the end of the day Cavs would have won in 2015 without the injuries, 2016 the unanimous MVP 73 win team was up 3-1 and lost, but sure we can blame it on the 7th best player being out after game 5 and the 4th best getting hurt in game 6 lol. Then the warriors went and got KD and Steph rode the bus that KD drove to the 17 and 18 championships. I call it like it is.
I am not leaving out that Bogut and Iggy played more games because the games they played they were winning 3-1 lol
If Iggy won FMVP you could argue he was the 2nd most important and Bogut was their only reliable center, so even if he wasnt a top 5 player on the roster he was extermely needed because without him literally Timofey Mozgov and Tristan Thompson dominated them.
Also, again Steph HIMSELF was also hurt and playing through an injury. You are telling me every single finals Steph played he averaged 26ppg or more but in 2016 he didnt because….of Kyrie? Ty Lue said it himself, Steph wasnt as fast as usual and it allowed them to guard him better.
You can look at on/off stats, video tape of KD getting a wide open layup because they decided to guard Steph without the ball on the 3 point line, every FACT clearly shows Steph was the most impactful player and best player. If KD is so great, why didnt he win without Steph whereas Steph got 2 rings without KD (the 2022 ring being a worst supporting cast than any recent champion other than the 2011 Mavs)
DarkGhost grasping at straws. I’ll take 3-1 overall versus Cavs, 2015-18, any day of the millennium if that means the one L is they blow a 3-1 series lead. You can have 1-3 vs all-timer Steph, 1-2 vs all-timer Timmy, and 1-2 vs all-timer KD if that floats your boat.
Curry is 3 years younger, though..
Steph was 40 in 2016? That was 9 years ago dude.
I have a feeling it will act up again next season in the playoffs.
Assuming they even make it.
Let’s go ahead and conclude the list of my TOP 10 FAVORITE LeBRON PLAYOFF EXITS before Game 3 of OKC-MIN tips off. If you’ve been keeping up with this segment, for each of the first SEVEN inclusion I discussed my thoughts/perspectives/memories/criticisms (plenty) pertaining to LeBron James’ involvement in the series. So as to not let this drag on into the summer, I have decided to merely list the final three nominees all at once, and will provide a brief subtitle/summary for all 10.
To make a long comment shorter, my disenchantment for LeBron (aka “Brawny Sensation”) was mostly non-existent (lukewarm perhaps?) up until the 2016 NBA Finals. Therefore, you will notice a trend of more recent LeBron-Cavs/LeBron Lakers playoff exits occupying a good majority of the top spots.
My TOP 10 FAVORITE LeBRON PLAYOFF EXITS
#10 – 2015 Finals, 2-4 vs Warriors
———The “We get why you lost, LeBron, but what happened to your FG% along the way??” series (this one will assuredly slide down a spot or two, depending on how much longer LeBron decides to play
#9 – 2010 WCSF, 2-4 vs Celtics
———The “Losing to Celtics again was the perfect impetus to jump ship” series
#8 – 2018 Finals, 0-4 vs Warriors
———The “Probably more drama OFF the court than ON” series
#7 – 2024 WCFR, 1-4 vs Nuggets
———The “Really starting to feel like JOKIC is your daddy” series
#6 – 2021 WCFR, 2-4 vs Suns
———The “Why even try without my so-called sidekick?” series (we all know LeBron became the sidekick once AD was acquired from New Orleans – and sidekicks CAN still win Finals MVPs despite the team’s #1 playing better)
#5 – 2011 Finals, 2-4 vs Mavericks
———The “Among the greatest upsets/Cinderella stories (whichever you wanna call it)” series………when I previously introduced this one, I emphasized the at-the-time sentiment that it was more about enjoying seeing Heat as a WHOLE losing, rather than simply just LeBron
#4 – 2014 Finals, 1-4 vs Spurs
———The “revenge series, version 1” (Timmy goes up, 2 to 1, on LeBron)
#3 – 2025 WCFR, 1-4 vs Wolves
———The “Lakers in 5” series
#2 – 2023 WCF, 0-4 vs Nuggets
———The “You flop, I flop” series
#1 – 2017 Finals, 1-4 vs Warriors
———The “Revenge series, version 2” for LeBron baiting Draymond MASTERLY and getting NBA League Office assistance to alter previous Finals (other possible series name: “Any super team you can build, Dubs can build better, LeBron)
Is he supposed to win a championship every year lmao. You can make these lists for anyone but Wilt who played against like 7 teams and plumbers
Bron should reject his salary. Become a FA. Sign with Cavs for vet minimum. Gives Lakers cap space to sign a FA. End it right Bron …. You ain’t getting a statue in LA or Miami.
But recently I saw a video where Lebron is leaving a restaurant, and was too happy he keeps dancing and forgot his MCL sprain?
Does he still flop down whenever someone get near him?
Do the team a solid LeBron, take less to put a more competitive team on the court. And don’t say the players union will not like taking less, BS. You want to win one more, that’s what you have to do!