When can LeBron James return from injury and line up for LA Lakers? Latest updates on the 4x NBA champion's ankle injury

LA Lakers superstar LeBron James has missed the team's last two games due to a foot injury. His last appearance was during the Lakers' 133-130 loss to the OKC Thunder when James broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record to become the NBA's all-time leading scorer.

James has struggled with the same injury for most of the season. Despite that, he has averaged a team-high 30.2 points, 8.5 rebounds and 7.0 assists, shooting 50.8% from the floor. He has also played a team-high 36.4 minutes per game.

When can LeBron James return from injury and lineup for LA Lakers?

The LA Lakers have listed James as questionable ahead of their last three games. He played against the Thunder, but missed the 115-106 home loss against the Milwaukee Bucks and the 109-103 road win over the Golden State Warriors. He was on the bench to support his teammates during his absence from the court.

The Lakers haven't given a timetable for James' return so far. He has been day-to-day for some time now and nothing has changed in that regard.

Latest update on LeBron James' injury

LA Lakers fans, look away. The latest reports about LeBron James' injury aren't positive. According to Bleacher Report and TNT's Chris Haynes, the four-time NBA MVP was severely struggling with a foot injury during his last game against the OKC Thunder.

James bagged 38 points (36 in the first three quarters) to break Abdul-Jabbar's record. However, he didn't move well after hitting the shot, which made him the league's record-leading scorer. Here's what Haynes wrote about this (h/t Sports Illustrated):

“It’s something that’s been nagging him for a few weeks already, but it gets to points where it just gets unbearable and he plays through it. And people that talked to me said he was really struggling with that foot."

Haynes added that James could struggle with the injury for the rest of the season, and he may have to play through it to take to the court.

“The way it’s explained to me is that sometimes it flares up, different sides of his foot, depending on the cut, the way that he plants certain times … that might be something that lingers all season long, but it reached a dire point."

LeBron James' injury problems after his move to the LA Lakers have been concerning. He endured a groin injury in his debut year with the team, followed by knee and ankle injuries over the last couple of seasons.

The Lakers' weak roster construction around him (and the long-term absence of Anthony Davis during multiple stretches) has increased LeBron's workload during the regular season. He has had to carry the team to wins against underdog teams.

However, LA's lack of depth and quality outside their two stars has gotten better since the trade deadline. The Lakers couldn't afford to rest LeBron James before, but they can risk that to an extent, especially against lottery-bound teams.

Click here to view the source to Haynes' report on LeBron.