"I heard it pop."
As LeBron James crashed to the floor on Sunday in the third quarter against the Mavericks and uttered those chilling four words, it appeared for a moment that the Lakers season was over.
Then as he's done time and again over two decades, James shook it off, kept playing and engineered a 27-point comeback, the largest in the NBA this season. Despite walking with a noticeable in the tunnel limp afterwards, it appeared the worst had been avoided.
Unfortunately for James and the Lakers, those fears came raging back on Monday when The Athletic's Shams Charania reported that James could miss extended time. Charania's report indicated that while he miraculously played through the injury on Sunday, he is now expected to seek multiple opinions as the Lakers brace for their franchise player to miss several weeks.
James himself took to Instagram shortly after news broke with a four-letter word aptly showing his frustration.
LeBron's reaction to the right foot injury that could keep him out for "an extended period of time" as the Lakers chase a playoff spot 😳
— 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬 (@sportingnews) February 28, 2023
📷: @KingJames pic.twitter.com/IkE3VRmdKD
James' injury delivers a devastating blow to the Lakers who are currently in 12th place in the Western Conference and desperately clawing their way back into the playoff race on a three-game win streak.
Although they sit in 12th, the Lakers are just two games back from 5th in the loss column with a friendly upcoming stretch including 10 of 12 at home. They return to action on Tuesday against the Grizzlies. Even without James, it remains a huge game for the Lakers who will lean even more on Anthony Davis who finished with 30 points and 15 rebounds in the win over Dallas.
If the worst of fears plays out, "I heard it pop" could ultimately act as the final death knell for a turbulent Lakers season. As this is a developing story, The Sporting News will continue to monitor for updates.
