Lakers anticipate return of James
Even though Dennis Schroder’s reflective sunglasses hid his eyes and a mask covered his mouth, you could tell there was a seriousness in what he was saying.
“It’s probably the Lakers organization who is going to tell you guys,” Schroder, speaking during a postgame videoconference, said of LeBron James’ return to the lineup. “I mean, he’s close. I can tell you that much.”
This little information shouldn’t feel like a revelation, but when it comes to James’ recovery from his high ankle sprain, this is akin to Schroder hand-delivering the Pentagon Papers.
James shared a clip of himself jogging in an empty gymnasium on Instagram on Monday. Lakers coach Frank Vogel has declined to offer a timetable for his return, and in team releases on the injury, the organization has said an update will be provided when “appropriate.”
Vogel has said James’ workouts have been progressing. But after Monday’s game, Schroder deemed that James would be back soon, a timeline that squares with the whispers in and around the organization that he could return around the start of May.
Before the game, Vogel did say that it was possible James could return without the Lakers holding a formal practice, something they waited on doing with Anthony Davis as he returned from his calf and Achilles injuries.
“We’ll get him as much work as needed for him to be safe to return to play,” Vogel said. “I think that looks different for each player. It looks different based on what the schedule looks like, when we have practice time, and all those sorts of things. But certainly we’ll make sure he’s safe to return to play before he returns.”
As with any return from injury, there still are hurdles to be cleared. James’ ankle needs to respond to the increases in workload. For the first time since he got hurt, however, someone said that he was almost back.
And what could be more important than that?
In the meantime, Schroder continued to play well, scoring 13 points in the fourth quarter of the Lakers’ win at Orlando. He also dished 10 assists — his third straight game with 10 or more. He’s done it five times this season, all with James out of the lineup.
“I can’t wait [until] he comes back,” Schroder said of James. “He always tells me, ‘Dennis, you’ve got to be aggressive. You’re not just a normal point guard.’ ... We’re really excited to get started again with him soon. Like I said, we’re going to be ready.”
TONIGHT
AT WASHINGTON Time: 4:30 PDT On the air: Spectrum SportsNet, ESPN. Radio: 710, 1330 Update: James won’t play in the Lakers’ lone trip to face the Wizards, but his return is imminent, at a time right when Davis is starting to get the rust off after missing 30 games. Alex Caruso is questionable after leaving Monday’s win because of back spasms. The Wizards have played themselves into the play-in tournament conversation behind Bradley Beal and Russell Westbrook, who have led the Wizards to 10 wins in their last 12 games.