LeBron James has been battling a calf injury for a good portion of this season.
James entered the season healthy after being limited to 55 games in 2022-23, but the 19-time All-Star has popped up on the injury report over the last month with a calf contusion. James has been able to play through it for the most part, but the injury has sidelined him for a total of two games to date.
James was most recently sidelined for Wednesday’s matchup with the Spurs, which saw the Lakers hold off a late comeback attempt to improve to 15-10 on the season.
Will James miss more than one game? Here’s the latest news on his injury and when he is expected to return.
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What is LeBron James’ injury?
The Lakers have listed James on the injury report with a left calf contusion.
James first suffered the injury in a win over the Suns on Nov. 10. On a drive to the basket in the game’s first quarter, he received an unintentional knee to the shin from Kevin Durant. James went on to finish with 32 points, 11 rebounds and six assists in 36 minutes of play, but he was seen walking with a slight limp after the game.
“Pretty sore right now,” James said postgame. “Obviously because the adrenaline is calming down and iced it, now it’s pretty sore.”
James missed the team’s next game. It turned out to be only a one-game absence, but he’s been listed as questionable for each game since.
How long will LeBron James be out?
James missed his second game of the 2023-24 season when the Lakers faced the Spurs on Dec. 13. After one absence, James is set to return to action for a rematch with San Antonio on Friday, Dec. 15.
James has appeared in 23 of a possible 25 games this season, posting averages of 25.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game. He recently led the Lakers to the In-Season Tournament championship and was named MVP for the competition.
The Lakers have been a different team with James on the court, going from outscoring opponents by 8.1 points per 100 possessions to being outscored by 10.0 points per 100 possessions with him on the bench. The Lakers are 2-0 without James despite those numbers, with wins coming over the 6-16 Trail Blazers and 3-20 Spurs.
WATCH: Follow LeBron James and the Lakers all season long on Sling TV
Lakers upcoming schedule
Here are the next five games on Los Angeles’ schedule:
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV channel |
| Dec. 15 | at Spurs | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Dec. 18 | vs. Knicks | 10:30 p.m. | — |
| Dec. 20 | at Bulls | 8 p.m. | — |
| Dec. 21 | at Timberwolves | 9 p.m. | NBA TV |
| Dec. 23 | at Thunder | 8 p.m. | — |
LeBron James 2023-24 season stats
- 25.3 points per game
- 7.5 rebounds per game
- 6.7 assists per game
- 1.5 steals per game
- 0.7 blocks per game
- 3.4 turnovers per game
- 55.1 percent field goal shooting
- 40.5 percent 3-point shooting
- 71.5 percent free throw shooting
