At 39 years old, LeBron James, the 20-time All-Star veteran of the Los Angeles Lakers, has been delivering outstanding performances on the basketball court throughout the season for the Purple and Gold squad. 

Despite his age, the 6’9″ forward has been averaging impressive statistics, including 25.3 points per game on shooting splits of .530/.407/.742, along with eight assists, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game. However, this remarkable level of play has taken a toll on James’s body.

According to a report by Dave McMenamin of ESPN, James has been battling a sore left ankle, described as a “wear-and-tear” injury, since the All-Star break. Despite the discomfort, James has been pushing through and playing through the injury for the remainder of the season. This injury has caused him to miss a total of nine games so far, in addition to dealing with various other minor ailments.

In a recent game against the Milwaukee Bucks, James sat out due to his ankle injury, but he returned to action in the Lakers’ victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Despite playing through the nagging injury, James showcased his talent by scoring 29 points on 10-of-16 field goal attempts, grabbing eight rebounds, and dishing out nine assists.

Fortunately for James, the Lakers have a few days off before their next game, providing him with an opportunity to rest and recover. Their next matchup is against the Sacramento Kings, where the Lakers will aim to avenge their previous loss to the Kings.