The Los Angeles Lakers will be without star forward LeBron James in Sunday's matchup against the Atlanta Hawks due to a left knee injury.
Before that contest, head coach Frank Vogel also mentioned that James could miss time beyond Sunday's game.
Here's everything we know about the injury.
NBA LEAGUE PASS: Sign up to unlock live out-of-market games (7-day free trial)
What is LeBron James' injury?
Ahead of Sunday's game against the Hawks, James received an MRI on his left knee that revealed "general swelling," according to Vogel . James will miss his third consecutive game due to left knee soreness as a result.
How long will LeBron James be out?
Vogel stated that James has returned back to Los Angeles early to get treatment done on his knee. He added that "as long as the swelling is there, he is going to be out."
Frank Vogel says LeBron James has returned to L.A. to begin treatment on his left knee. “As long as the swelling is there, he is going to be out,” Vogel said.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) January 30, 2022
While that doesn't offer a concrete timeline, you can expect the Lakers to be cautious with their veteran leader's return.
In Year 19, at age 37, James is posting his highest minutes per game average (36.6) since the 2017-18 season in Cleveland where he led the NBA in minutes played. He is fourth in the NBA in minutes played per game this season. He is having one of his most dominant offensive seasons of his career, averaging 29.1 points per game, which is good for his highest scoring average since the 2009-10 season when he was 25 years old.
The Lakers haven't exactly reaped the benefits of James' extraordinary season, sitting in at 24-26 at the time of writing, holding the No. 9 seed in the Western Conference.
LeBron James injury history this season
James has missed a total of 15 games (including Sunday's matchup with the Hawks) and counting due to injury or illness so far this season.
The Lakers are 5-9 in those 14 games without their superstar forward. Below you can find LeBron's full injury history from this season.
| Injury/reason for absence | Time frame | Games missed |
| Right ankle soreness | Oct. 26-27 | 2 |
| Abdominal strain | Nov. 4-17 | 8 |
| Suspension | Nov. 23 | 1 |
| Health and safety protocols | Nov. 30 | 1 |
| Left knee soreness | Jan. 27-present | 3 |
Lakers upcoming schedule
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | National TV |
| Jan. 30 | at Hawks | 1:00 p.m. | – |
| Feb. 2 | vs. Trail Blazers | 10:00 p.m. | – |
| Feb. 3 | at Clippers | 10:00 p.m. | TNT |
| Feb. 5 | vs, Knicks | 8:30 p.m. | ABC |
| Feb. 8 | vs. Bucks | 10:00 p.m. | TNT |
| Feb. 9 | at Trail Blazers | 10:00 p.m. | – |
The views on this page do not necessarily represent the views of the NBA or its clubs.
