LeBron James injury update: Shams Charania gives timeline for LA Lakers star’s return to action

LA Lakers star LeBron James has been sidelined for a week now, and it could be much longer. The 19-time All-Star injured his ankle during a matchup against the Dallas Mavericks.

Following the injury, reports emerged that LeBron's ankle will be re-evaluated in three weeks. During a recent appearance on "FanDuel TV," Shams Charnia of The Athletic cited that it could take longer for him to make his return to the lineup:

"I don't know if the Lakers think he's gonna be back in three weeks. I don't think it'll be just the three weeks, likely beyond that. You put yourself in a position where you hope that he's back right before the playoffs."

Prior to the injury, LeBron James was in the midst of a historic season at his age. In 47 games this season, he is averaging 29.5 ppg, 8.4 rpg and 6.9 apg.

The LA Lakers need LeBron James back as soon as possible

If LeBron James is unable to return when his ankle is re-evaluated, it could derail things for the LA Lakers. With a few weeks to go in the regular season, they are fighting an uphill battle as they attempt to land a playoff spot.

The Lakers currently sit in 11th place in the Western Conference with a record of 31-34. With the standings being so air-tight right now, one bad stretch could destroy their dreams of making the postseason.

Only three games separate the 11th place Lakers and the Golden State Warriors, who are in fifth. The opportunity to climb the standings is there, but they need to be at full strength. For now, it is on Anthony Davis to lead the charge as the Lakers' lone star.

At the trade deadline, LA made it clear they wanted to end their playoff drought. After trading Russell Westbrook and bringing in multiple depth pieces, the talent is there to build positive momentum in these final weeks.

Despite being in his 20th season, LeBron is still the engine that makes the Lakers go. The new-look supporting cast is strong, but it needs to be centered around a star.

The Lakers already had an extremely small margin for error heading into the postseason. Being without LeBron only makes things more challenging.

If LeBron James is forced to miss more time when his ankle is looked at again, it's hard to imagine LA being competitive. Even with the new additions, they need their stars at the top of their game if they want any shot at being a real threat in the playoffs.