LeBron James has been one of the NBA’s most durable players. That is why it is surprising he is dealing with a knee injury for the first time in his career.
Before the 2025 Playoffs, expectations were high for the Los Angeles Lakers. The Minnesota Timberwolves beat them in the first round in five games, which was an eye-opener. However, the tough loss came with bad news, as LeBron James suffered a knee injury.
LeBron has played 22 years in the NBA, but he has always been sturdy. He has some small injuries here and there, but he has never suffered any major ones. Against the Timberwolves, he suffered a knee injury, the first of his career. This was the first time for him, which caught him a bit off guard, given his elite longevity.
Throughout his historic 22-year career, James has suffered many injuries. However, most of them have not been major issues, and none as significant as a knee injury. In the series against Minnesota, James played well, averaging 25.4 points, nine rebounds, and 5.6 assists. He once again proved his unprecedented longevity with those numbers.
In the close-out game against the Timberwolves, LeBron suffered an MCL sprain when he collided with Donte DiVincenzo. This is a brand-new situation for LeBron because he has always fought through injuries. Unfortunately, it happened, and he is now recovering as the Lakers reel from their postseason exit.
“I knew as soon as the impact happened with me and DiVincenzo, I felt it right away. My knee locked up. That’s why I kind of stayed on the ground for quite a minute to see if the knee would kind of release a little bit,” James said on his Mind The Game podcast.
“But I knew right then and there was a pain that I hadn’t felt before. I have four to six weeks now. That’s the benefit of not going on in the postseason.”
This is a brand-new situation for LeBron because he has always fought through injuries. Thankfully for him, he will be resting at home watching the rest of the Playoffs. However, that does not take away from his competitive fire.
James has not hinted at retirement for the upcoming 2025-26 season, so he will be returning to the Lakers. It will be his first full season with Luka Doncic as his teammate, which is a promising sign. Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka will have a big summer, as he looks to make moves to help the team.
Their early exit against the Timberwolves showed they have many holes to fill. Fortunately, having James and Doncic on the same team could convince other players to join them. It will be a big offseason for the Lakers and an opportunity to recover for James. He might be in his 40s, but his elite longevity should continue into the 2025-26 campaign.
This injury is a minor obstacle for LeBron, even though it’s his first major knee injury. The Lakers’ future is bright, especially with a motivated LeBron ahead of the 25-26 season.
