LeBron James returns to the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night, marking his comeback after a seven-game absence due to a strained left groin.
As the all-time leading scorer in NBA history, he is set to start against the Chicago Bulls in the closing game of the Lakers’ five-game homestand.
At 40 years old, James had temporarily left the Lakers during their road trip for treatment but has since engaged in multiple workouts, showcasing his determination to return to the court.
During his record-tying 22nd NBA season, he has averaged 25.0 points, 8.5 assists, and 8.2 rebounds, playing in 58 of the Lakers’ first 69 games. Notably, just two games prior to his injury, James became the first player in league history to accumulate 50,000 points in both the regular season and playoffs combined.
The Lakers also welcomed back starting forward Rui Hachimura, who had been sidelined for 12 games due to a knee injury. Hachimura ranks as the Lakers’ fourth-leading scorer with an average of 13.3 points per game and serves as a key two-way player.
“Getting those two players back is significant. I can’t quantify it, but our offense has suffered without them,” coach JJ Redick remarked.
In their recent matchup, Los Angeles faced a defeat against Milwaukee while Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves were also unavailable, leaving the Lakers short-handed for their sixth game in eight days. Fortunately, both Doncic and Reaves have been cleared to return against Chicago.
“We haven’t had many opportunities to field our complete team this season,” Redick noted. “Managing these challenges has been a constant for us, regardless of which version of the team is on the floor. I’m looking forward to these last 13 games to establish some continuity and chemistry, aiming to recapture the form we displayed before the Boston game.”
