LeBron James injury update: Shams Charania shares update on LA Lakers star's return timeline

LeBron James has missed the last eight games with right foot soreness. While speaking on The Rally, NBA insider Shams Charania recently gave an update on the LA Lakers star's return, stating:

"I'm told his right foot is feeling much better. He was seen shooting on the court today, shooting free throws, for the first time since that injury that he had. There's still no concrete timetable for him to return to activities or return to action. I'm told he's still a ways away and the Lakers are bracing as if he will need a significant chunk of the remainder of the regular season to ramp up for a return."

"There's one and a half more weeks until he's going to be re-evaluated again by the Lakers and the likelihood is that he's going to be out beyond that. There's three and a half weeks left in the regular season so he's going to need all the time to really heal up from that injury. He needs all the weeks he can get."

Check out Shams Charania's comments on LeBron James' return below:

The LA Lakers have managed to weather the storm in the absence of LeBron James, as they have gone 5-3 during that stretch. While their trade deadline acquisitions, along with co-star Anthony Davis, have played a major role in their performance, the Lakers will need James to build chemistry with the new pieces prior to the postseason.

How has LeBron James performed this season?

LeBron James has played in just 47 of the LA Lakers 69 games played this season. The 22 missed games are approaching the most the four-time NBA champion has missed in his 20-year career. While he has been on the court, however, James has been his usual self.

LeBron has averaged 29.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, 6.9 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.6 blocks per game while shooting 50.1% from the field, 30.8% from 3-point range and 75.9% from the free-throw line.

While the Lakers struggled plenty during the first half of the season, they have turned things around following a strong trade deadline. Since implementing their new pieces, LA is 9-4, despite several key pieces missing time, including James, who has played in just three of those games.

Over that span, the Lakers have looked like a much different team, particularly on the defensive end, as well as, three-point shooting. They are now tied for eighth in the Western Conference, jumping five spots since the trade deadline.

Check out LeBron James' 2022-2023 highlights below: