Watch: "GOAT back to normal gait" - Fans speculate LeBron James' return to action after Lakers star is seen without surgical boot

LeBron James was at Crypto.com Arena to watch the LA Lakers take on the New York Knicks. Laker Nation should be elated when he walked into the arena without a walking boot.

They quickly reacted on Twitter, with one fan writing:

"GOAT is back to his normal gait"

James injured his right foot against the Dallas Mavericks two weeks ago. Incredibly enough, he finished the game despite telling teammates he heard something "pop. He hasn't played since and will be re-evaluated in about a week.

While recovering from said injury, the four-time MVP has been going about with a walking boot. He often goes to games on the Lakers' homecourt while driving a scooter.

It seems like his recovery is progressing as expected as he is now without a contraption. The LA Lakers have reportedly braced themselves to finish the regular season without the 19x All-Star but the update should improve their mood.

There must still be quiet optimism in the organization that LeBron James could still return to action during LA's stretch run.

After the 112-108 loss to the New York Knicks, the LA Lakers are back in 11th place with a 33-35 record. They hold the same win-loss card as the Utah Jazz, the OKC Thunder and the New Orleans Pelicans.

LeBron James' potential return could help him keep his vow of not missing the playoffs again in his career.

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LA Lakers lose another game without LeBron James

With LeBron James watching from the sidelines, the LA Lakers lost couldn't defend their home court against the New York Knicks.

D'Angelo Russell had his best game as a Laker this season with 33 points, eight assists and five rebounds. He hit 68% of his shots, including 6-11 from behind the arc, but his efforts were still not enough.

Anthony Davis, against the Knicks' frontline of Mitchell Robinson, Isaiah Hartenstein and Julius Randle, finished with 17 points, 16 rebounds and four assists.

After the game, AD knew he could have done better, particularly with James still out.

“My fault. I played terrible.”

Tonight was one of those games where the LA Lakers could have made use of "King James." Despite D'Angelo Russell's hot form, the New York Knicks refused to give Anthony Davis breathing room.

Russell scored just two of his 33 points in the fourth quarter as the Knicks clamped down on defense. Davis also couldn't shake free of New York's air tight defense when it mattered most.

LeBron James' presence alone could have given both Russell and AD more space to operate. The four-time champ's ability to get to the rim to create opportunities for himself and his teammates remains elite.

Despite Skip Bayless' claims that James lacks a clutch gene, few have been as good as him when the game is on the line. Tonight, the Lakers badly-needed his presence and will continue to pine for his return.

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