Los Angeles Lakers Injury report: Will LeBron James play against Charlotte Hornets, Luka Doncic set for increased minutes

The Los Angeles Lakers made headlines on Tuesday with news surrounding LeBron James’ health status and Luka Doncic’s expected increase in playing time. The Lakers are preparing for their game against Charlotte at Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday, where James' status remains uncertain due to ongoing ankle and foot discomfort.

LeBron James: day-to-day and managing injuries

LeBron James, who was sidelined from Sunday’s All-Star Game due to persistent ankle and foot issues, has been listed as questionable for the upcoming game against Charlotte. The 40-year-old, in his 22nd season, has been managing the discomfort throughout the year, and Lakers head coach JJ Redick shared updates following practice on Tuesday.

It’s something that we managed all year and it was sore over the weekend, Redick said. He was able to do most of practice today. But, like it’s been all year, like it’s a day-to-day thing. It’s just something that we’ve had to manage and we’ll continue to manage throughout the rest of the year.

Despite the injury, James has remained a key player for the Lakers, averaging 24.3 points, 9.0 assists, and 7.7 rebounds over 34.5 minutes per game. His shooting accuracy is impressive, with 51.6% from the field and 39.5% from beyond the arc. Before the All-Star break, James played 48 out of 52 games, demonstrating his importance to the team’s success.

Luka Doncic ready for increased minutes

Luka Doncic’s role with the Lakers has grown since his trade from the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Anthony Davis. In his two games with Los Angeles, Doncic averaged 23.5 minutes per game, having been limited due to injury recovery. However, after a six-day break, Redick confirmed that Doncic is now fully prepared for an increase in his playing time.

His minutes will be up tomorrow, Redick confirmed. I don’t think there is going to be any sort of restrictions going forward.

With Doncic now fully fit, the Lakers are ready to integrate him further into their lineup as they look to continue their playoff push in the Western Conference.

Challenging Schedule Ahead for the Lakers

The Lakers' schedule post-break promises to be grueling, beginning with Wednesday’s makeup game against Charlotte. The matchup was originally scheduled for January 9 but was postponed due to wildfires in the Los Angeles area. Following that, the team will play Thursday in Portland and then head to Denver for a Saturday night showdown.

This stretch is part of a challenging month for the Lakers, who will face a series of tough opponents. Redick noted the difficulty of both the caliber of competition and the demanding schedule, which includes eight games over 14 days.

With a 32-20 record and sitting fifth in the competitive Western Conference, the Lakers are poised to continue their impressive form. They entered the break on a strong note, winning 12 of their last 15 games.