Lakers news: LeBron James could return in a couple weeks

LeBron James could be back on the court for the Los Angeles Lakers soon.

It’s been tough sledding for the Los Angeles Lakers since LeBron James joined Anthony Davis on the sidelines with a high ankle sprain. The latest Lakers news, however, should encourage L.A. fans that their superstar will be back soon.

During the Lakers’ overtime game against the Utah Jazz on Saturday, ESPN’s Jorge Sedano provided a somewhat vague update on when James would return, comparing it to a similar injury the King suffered during his last stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers. That 2017 injury happened during training camp and forced him to miss almost four weeks.

As Sedano mentions, LeBron should be back on the court within the next couple of weeks:

LeBron James nearing his return with the Lakers

With that 2017 injury Sedano is referencing, James was able to play in the Cavs’ season opener against the Boston Celtics, but the key part of that comparison is the timing. That injury sidelined James for 3-4 weeks, and this current ankle sprain has kept him out since March 20.

That means it’s been exactly four weeks since the injury, which was originally diagnosed to keep him out for 4-6 weeks. A week ago, it was reported that James would be back in three weeks.

So basically, we’re still right on track for LeBron James to return right near the tail end of that original 4-6 week diagnosis.

With an overtime win over the shorthanded Jazz, the Lakers improved to 7-9 since James went down in that March 20 game against the Atlanta Hawks. They’ve slid all the way to fifth in the Western Conference standings with their two superstars out, as Anthony Davis has been sidelined since Feb. 14.

Davis is expected to return soon after ramping up his on-court activity, and it sounds like James isn’t too far behind.