Superstar LeBron James will miss at least two weeks while he recovers from knee and back strains, the Cleveland Cavaliers announced Thursday.
The seemingly indestructible James sat out the last two games with what was called soreness in his left knee. He underwent a barrage of tests at the Cleveland Clinic that included an MRI and revealed strains to his left knee and lower back, the team said in a statement.
Treatment will include anti-inflammatories, rehabilitation, training room treatments and rest. James’ projected return is in two weeks, meaning he would miss seven or eight games, including a portion of a West Coast road trip.
James, who turned 30 on Tuesday, has never missed more than seven games in a season. He already has missed three this season, also sitting out a loss at Oklahoma City on Dec. 11 with the knee issue.
James’ ballyhooed return to Cleveland isn’t quite going as planned. The Cavaliers also added Kevin Love in a blockbuster trade this summer, giving them perhaps the best trio in the NBA with James, Love and Kyrie Irving.
But the Cavs also hired a new coach in David Blatt, who had spent most of his time in Europe and had no previous NBA experience. Blatt has had the chores of winning over skeptics and installing his system with a team of 10 new players, including James, the game’s best player and biggest personality.
A season-ending injury to center Anderson Varejao – the closest thing the Cavaliers have to a rim protector – hasn’t helped. Starting with a Christmas loss at Miami, Cleveland has dropped four of its last five games and is 18-14, good for just fifth in the weak Eastern Conference.
There were reports this week that the Cavs were tuning out Blatt, who received a lukewarm endorsement from James. There also were reports that James was considering reuniting with good friend Dwyane Wade in Miami after this season, which he shot down.
Statistically, very little of Cleveland’s issues can be laid at the feet of James, a four-time MVP. Although his shooting numbers are down a bit, he is second in the NBA in scoring at 25.2 points and seventh in assists with 7.6 per contest. His PER of 25.0 is his lowest since the 2006-07 season but still ranks sixth in the league.
The Cavs already are without Varejao and Love, who is day to day with a back injury as well. They visit Charlotte on Friday. If James returns in exactly two weeks, it would be in a nationally televised road game vs. the LA Lakers on Jan. 15.