SUMMARY
- LeBron James has been facing discomfort in his ankle since December 2023.
- The Lakers star has been diagnosed with left ankle peroneal tendinopathy.
LeBron James has been playing through a couple of ailments this season but his current injury could be a little threatening. As we all know, he is currently the oldest player in the league, and with age comes the tests of durability. James has been able to withstand a lot of damage on the court over the years. He goes through vigorous training that helps him develop a barrier from protects him from damage. And this has also helped him achieve great longevity.
LeBron James has been dealing with a left ankle injury that kept him out of last night’s game. 🤕 https://t.co/C7OQiU9Yj3 pic.twitter.com/3Grn4igbJj
— theScore (@theScore) March 9, 2024
It has been 21 seasons since The King came into the league. The 39-year-old still puts himself against the toughest and most aggressive players on the floor. This is what makes James as great as he is. But a cement wall is bound to collapse after it gets constantly struck by a metal rod. It starts with a couple of internal cracks which ultimately bring the durability of the wall. And James’ tendency to take damage may have caused his ankle injury.
LeBron James’ injury could involve partial tears or inflammation
LeBron James has been in and out of the Los Angeles Lakers lineup due to an injury called peroneal tendinopathy. He began treating the injury before the 2024 NBA All-Star break and continues to go through the process. A YouTuber/Medical expert named Foot Doctor Zach explained James’ injury in detail. Tendinopathy is when a tendon gets affected after consistent damage.
Tendinopathy is a collective term for three different tendon issues, namely Tendonitis, Tendinosis, and lastly, Peritendinitis. Tendonitis is when a particular tendon gets inflamed which produces a lot of heat or discomfort in the affected area. Tendinosis is when there is a group of partial tears in the tendon. Peritendonitis is when the protective layer over the tendon gets compromised and is said to be the most painful. This layer helps achieve smooth motion.
Having established what Tendinopathy is, what LeBron James has involves the peroneal tendons. Two peroneal tendons run along the outer part of the leg, which starts from the knee and extends to the foot. One of the tendons branches out from the ankle and over the side of the foot. While the other extends to the bottom part. It is specifically either one of those tendons that have been affected in James’ case.
What will help LeBron James recover from peroneal tendinopathy?
The Lakers medical team has probably already done MRIs to determine the location of the injury. Considering that they’ve mentioned the ankle in the injury reports, it probably exists around the area. Doctors have specified that tendinopathy requires rest or possibly surgery if the injury is serious. But the fact that LeBron James is still able to play, his injury probably needs good rest.
However, at this point of the season, the Lakers cannot afford to sideline the 20x NBA All-Star on load management. The tendons we have spoken about earlier are built to sustain good amounts of damage, but over time they weaken. James may have enough fuel to conclude the season, given that the Lakers rest him when needed. Chances are that he will recover fully during the off-season either by complete rest or a minor surgery.