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LeBron James was only able to make a confident return to the court after seeking advice from a doctor he referred to as "the LeBron James of feet." The Los Angeles Lakers superstar chose not to disclose the medical professional's name but received assurance that he could recover from a torn tendon in his right foot without surgery.
James shared his experience after the Lakers' 118-108 loss to the Chicago Bulls, stating, "He told me I shouldn't [get surgery]." Two other doctors had recommended James undergo surgery to repair his foot, but the 20-year veteran chose to embark on a rigorous round-the-clock rehabilitation and training program instead.
Four Weeks of Determination and Dedication
James made a remarkable comeback in just four weeks, missing only 13 games, and rejoined the Lakers in their final push for playoff qualification. Despite a loss to Chicago, which pushed L.A.
to No. 9 in the Western Conference standings, they remained only two games behind the No. 6 Golden State Warriors with seven games remaining. In his game against the Bulls, James scored 19 points, shooting 6-for-11 from the field, and contributed eight rebounds and three assists.
However, he also committed five turnovers, with the team's total reaching 18, resulting in 34 points for Chicago. Addressing his performance, James emphasized the importance of rhythm: "I had a couple of drives and the ball got away from me.
A couple of shots didn't feel as good as before, obviously. But I was out for four weeks, so between that and the wind, just trying to get those things back leading to the final stretch of the season." Lakers' teammate Anthony Davis (15 points, nine rebounds) commented on the significance of James' return, stating, "You could see him getting his rhythm, his timing, his finishes, all of that.
He's going to be all right. We're going to be all right... It was great to see him back out there."
Looking Ahead: Lakers' Playoff Chances
James expressed that the Lakers' performance in his absence, going 8-5 and gaining ground in the standings, inspired his expedited return. "To hell with the play-in; we actually can be a top-eight seed," James said. "That definitely changed my mindset on me coming back and trying to be a part of this...
I don't really want to say changed my mindset; it just enhanced what I was trying to do as far as my workouts, as far as my treatment and everything." With the end of the season approaching and games occurring almost every other day, Lakers coach Darvin Ham believes the team will need to utilize shootarounds and film sessions to coalesce around James.
However, Ham remains confident in James' ability to fast-track the process, stating, "He's a savvy veteran, one of the greatest to ever do it, over 20 years, so it's not going to take much."
