It was an unfamiliar, and unsettling, sight: LeBron James, hobbling. For nearly two decades, James has been the NBA’s ironman. More than 1,300 games. Another three-plus seasons worth in the playoffs. Nearly 50,000 minutes played. Only twice has James suited up for less than 85% of his team’s games. When James collapsed to the Staples Center floor on Saturday, it was fair to wonder if he was headed for another one.
It’s too early to assess the long term impact of the high ankle sprain James suffered against Atlanta. The Lakers have listed James out indefinitely, while James tweeted that “the road [to] recovery begins now.