By: Christopher Jordan
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James holds his ankle after going down with an injury during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks and is out indefinitely with a high ankle sprain. Early in the second quarter Hawks player, Solomon Hill fell on the side of James’ leg while trying to grab a loose ball, cause James to roll his ankle in an outward way.
James fell to the floor in pain, and he grabbed his ankle immediately. James stayed in the game trying to walk it off. Despite, James hitting a three-pointer for his team the Los Angeles Lakers.
During the Laker’s next timeout, James would go to the locker room and he would not return to the game. The Lakers would go on to lose the game 99-94.
With James injuring his ankle this could hurt his chance at winning his 5th MVP. When Joel Embiid injured his knee last week against the Utah Jazz and having to miss the next few weeks. That made LeBron the front-runner to win MVP.
James hasn’t won an MVP since 2013. This could be the year where he becomes the oldest player to an MVP at age 36 years old. James is in year 18 and it looks like he’s not slowing down anytime soon.
Now with him injuring his ankle and out indefinitely this could hurt his chances at winning MVP. James is averaging 25.8 points per game, 8 assists, and 8 rebounds.
The Lakers are already short-handed with Anthony Davis out with a calf injury. Now, the Laker’s two best players are out due to injury.
James tweeted Saturday evening. “I’m hurt inside and out right now. The road back to recovery begins now. Back soon like I never left.”
What will the Lakers do in LeBron’s absence? They have some important games coming up and the Lakers are in the tough Western Conference. The Lakers are currently (28-14) third in the Western Conference.
With James being out with an ankle injury. Nobody knows when he’ll be back in the lineup with the Lakers. The Lakers could lose the third seed and they could potentially drop at a lower seed.
In James absence, Montrezl Harrell had 23 points and 11 rebounds, with Dennis Schroder had 16 points and seven assists against his former team the Atlanta Hawks
The Lakers will need a lot more from Harrell and Schroder. They will be the driving force for the Lakers in LeBron’s absence.
The Hawks improve to (22-20) in the win against the Lakers. They are the 5th seed in the Eastern Conference.
John Collins finished the game with a double-double. Collins had 27 points and 16 rebounds. Trae Young chipped in 14 points and 11 assists.
The Lakers played a tribute video for Rajon Rondo, who helped the Lakers win their Championship last season. Rondo would also get a technical foul called on him for arguing in the third quarter.
The Hawks will play the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night.
The Lakers will play their first game without LeBron on Sunday night at Phoenix.
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