Lebron James returned last night with a triple double after missing the Lakers March 26th match-up against the Milwaukee Bucks with foot/ankle soreness. Good news for Lakers fans as their team looks to make one last push prior to the NBA playoffs. Los Angeles currently sits in 9th place in the Western Conference and will need all their stars out their if they want to improve that standing.
James isn’t taking any chances though and made it known that his body and health come first, and that he is going to be “very strategic” with the injury management. Noting to media that his health will come before playoff seeding, James said "Obviously, understanding and seeing how my ankle and my foot is feeling. But just being very smart about it, obviously. We are where we are, but our health has always been the most important for our ballclub”.
Lebron has been dealing with what has been defined as peroneal tendinopathy. A condition where a person’s peroneal tendons which sit on the outside of the ankle and foot are inflamed causing pain. Unfortunately for Lebron, the pain can be exacerbated by running and jumping. The good news is that if managed correctly you can limit symptoms and play through them. It is no surprise that James who is 39 now must deal with some chronic ailments at this point in his career.
From what Lebron offered up to the media it seems that him and his athletic trainers have a plan to get him through the end of the season and manage the injury so that he will be ready to go for the play in tournament if required.
As for the team they have shown grit and the ability to win without Lebron in a double overtime victory over the Bucks where they overcame a 19 point deficit behind Anthony Davis and Austin Reaves.
