Report: Luke Walton Says Lakers Must Prepare For Life Without LeBron James

The Los Angeles Lakers have played without LeBron James for over a month, and head coach Luke Walton says it will take a little longer before the king returns.

King James went down due to a groin injury on Christmas Day. He was out of the game, but was set to return this week. However, Luke Walton said the recovery process will take longer.

LeBron’s agent informed fans that it was a tendon problem which is more serious than a groin sprain. A former NFL doctor said a tendon tear in the groin is definitely keeping LeBron out of the floor for up to two months. That’s the worst scenario the Lakers hoped for.

“Obviously he cares about their struggles. The man wants to play. He’s f***ing itching to play, but he can’t put himself in that situation. It’s just, you’ve really got to do the right thing and it has zero to do with his age, or the fact he’s played 16 seasons – nothing to do with that. This is a tendon. It’s not a shoulder or an ankle or an elbow. The smart thing to do is to do the smart thing. You can’t allow the media, or the fact that the team might be losing, to dictate what’s best for you, and we won’t. He’s progressing. He’s not ready yet.”

Luke Walton predicts life without LeBron

The Lakers head coach said the players will have to get used to playing without the star player. They have to play as if he will not be back in a while. The team do hopes that LeBron will return in near future, but they have to be ready if his sprain takes more time than expected.

This is LeBron’s longer absence in his professional career. Will he come back next week? I don’t think so.