LeBron James foot injury: Lakers star might need surgical treatment after playing through torn tendon, per report

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James may have surgical treatment this offseason after playing through a torn tendon in his ideal foot, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania. James’ foot will be re-evaluated in the future, and, if he needs surgical treatment, the treatment would apparently sideline him for 2 months. 

James initially hurt his foot on Feb. 26 throughout a routine season video game versus the Dallas Mavericks. On-court electronic cameras captured him stating “I heard it pop” while he was on the flooring, and, after completing that video game, he missed out on the Lakers’ next 13 video games.

Upon his return on March 26, James exposed that numerous physicians recommended he required season-ending surgical treatment however he discovered “the LeBron James of feet,” who assisted him go back to the court. He played in every video game the remainder of the method for the Lakers, assisting them enter into the play-in competition as the No. 7 seed, and ultimately all the method to the Western Conference finals. 

There, regardless of James installing 27.8 points, 9.5 rebounds and 10 helps per video game, the Lakers were swept by the Denver Nuggets. Following Game 4, he confessed that he wasn’t at his finest due to the injury and stated he would get an MRI on his foot to identify a next action. 

“I knew I could get to the finish line,” James stated in an interview with ESPN. “Obviously, I knew I had to deal with it and deal with the pain or deal with not being able to be myself before the injury, but there was nothing that made me feel like I couldn’t get to the finish line.

“I’m going to get an MRI on it and see how the tendon either recovered or not recovered and go from there. We’ll see what occurs.”

Whether James has surgery or not, he is reportedly expected to be ready for the beginning of 2023-24 training camp — assuming he does not retire, that is. James stated after Game 4 that he needs to consider if he wishes to continue playing.

Despite his remarks, it would be a surprise if he stepped away instead of returning for a 21st season. In an interview on The Pat McAfee Show on Thursday, Charania stated that individuals around James were captured off guard by his quotes, including, “Do I expect LeBron James to retire? I don’t. I fully expect him to play next season. All I’ve heard since those comments is that he will be playing next season.”