Is LeBron James playing tonight against Charlotte Hornets? Latest injury update for 4x NBA MVP (Dec. 28)

LeBron James' will play on Thursday night against the Charlotte Hornets. The four-time MVP is no longer on the report for the calf contusion he sustained against the Phoenix Suns on Nov. 10. However, LeBron endured left knee contusion against the Boston Celtics on Christmas Day.

The Lakers star has missed only three games this season. LeBron looked in severe pain upon sustaining the injury. He wasn't delivering his best, either. "King James" tied his season low of 16 points on 35.7% shooting.

He lacked explosiveness down the stretch. The minimal production by his standards erased a 40-point monster game from Anthony Davis as the Lakers succumbed to a 126-115 loss against their archrivals.

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What happened to LeBron James?

LeBron bumped his knee on Jaylen Brown's back while chasing the Boston Celtics star in the first half of Monday's showdown. Both players grimaced in pain as Brown suffered a back injury while LeBron faced a knee issue. James shrugged it off and played the rest of the game.

However, LeBron said after the game that his knee was still sore. He was glad the Lakers had a two-day break before their next game, which is on Thursday night against the Hornets. LeBron will be a game-time decision.

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LeBron James stats vs. Charlotte Hornets

LeBron has played 54 games against the Hornets. He boasts a 47-7 record against them, his best against any NBA team in his 21 seasons. LeBron's averaging 28.4 points, 7.7 rebounds and 7.5 assists on 54/37/78 splits against the Eastern Conference team.

The Lakers are yet to face them this season. LeBron last played them on Jan. 2. He tallied 43 points, 11 rebounds and six assists on 61.5% shooting in a 121-115 road win. His career-high effort of 61 points came against the Hornets on Mar. 3, 2014, when he was with the Miami Heat.

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LeBron James' return to point guard momentarily solves Lakers' woes

LeBron James returned to play point guard against the OKC Thunder last week as the LA Lakers benched D'Angelo Russell amid their 1-5 run after the NBA Cup win. LeBron dropped a season-high 40 points in the 129-120 win over the OKC Thunder.

However, he followed it with his worst game of the year against the Boston Celtics, tallying a season-low 16 points on 35.7% shooting. LeBron's playmaking remained elite, though. He has dished out 15 assists in two games. The Lakers need more shooting around him to make this transition work again.

The new starting lineup with Cam Reddish and Jarred Vanderbilt starting together has limited the Lakers' spacing. The Lakers should start Austin Reaves for Cam Reddish or return to the D'Angelo Russell-Austin Reaves-LeBron James-Jarred Vanderbilt-Anthony Davis lineup to find the right balance.