LeBron James exits Christmas Day game vs. Warriors with groin injury, status is day-to-day

Gilbert McGregor

LeBron James exits Christmas Day game vs. Warriors with groin injury, status is day-to-day image

According to multiple reports, Lakers All-Star forward LeBron James will not return after suffering a groin injury in the team's Christmas Day game vs. the Warriors.


 

James appeared to have suffered the injury early in the third quarter as an awkward change in direction caused him to lose his footing. The 14-time All-Star was visibly affected as he came up grimacing in discomfort.

LeBron hobbled back to the Lakers' locker room, at the 7:51 mark in the third quarter, alongside two of the team's athletic trainers. At the time of the injury, he had a team-high 17 points to go along with 13 rebounds and five assists.

Despite missing their best player, the young Lakers led by Rajon Rondo (15 points, 10 assists) blew out the two-time defending champions by 26 points. 


 

The Lakers return to action Friday when they travel to Sacramento to take on the Kings. Depending on the severity of James' groin injury, his streak of having played in 156 consecutive games (regular season and postseason) could be in jeopardy.

More to come.

Gilbert McGregor

Gilbert McGregor Photo

Gilbert McGregor first joined The Sporting News in 2018 as a content producer for Global editions of NBA.com. Before covering the game, McGregor played basketball collegiately at Wake Forest, graduating with a Communication degree in 2016. McGregor began covering the NBA during the 2017-18 season and has been on hand for a number of league events.