Los Angeles Lakers’ superstar LeBron James remains unfazed despite being forced to leave the court early during a 130-120 loss to the Sacramento Kings, citing concerns over his recurring ankle issue.

James, who delivered an impressive performance with 31 points, five rebounds, and 13 assists, exited the game with 3:56 remaining on the clock due to discomfort in his ankle. Despite the setback, James reassured reporters post-game, stating, “I’ll be all right. It’s just my ankle. It’s just what I’ve been dealing with before the [All-Star] break, after the break. I’m just managing it the best way I can.”

Sources close to the Lakers later revealed to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin that James’ ankle troubles are attributed to the “wear and tear” accumulated over his illustrious 21-year NBA career, comprising 1,477 regular-season games and 282 playoff appearances.

Despite the injury concerns, James has maintained relatively good health this season and is on track to play the most games since 2019-20. With impressive averages of 25.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 8.0 assists per game, James continues to be a pivotal figure for the Lakers as they navigate through the season.