Luka Doncic sends heartfelt message to LeBron James amid injury recovery: "Take your time and get healthy"

The Los Angeles Lakers lost 111-101 to the Boston Celtics on Thursday, but the bigger blow came when LeBron James left the game late in the fourth quarter with a groin injury. James, who scored 22 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, and dished out 9 assists in 35 minutes, is expected to miss 1-2 weeks.
His absence comes at a bad time for the Lakers (42-29), who are fighting for the No. 2 spot in the Western Conference. Over the next 11 days, they’ll play seven tough games, including matchups against the Brooklyn Nets, Milwaukee Bucks, and Denver Nuggets.
New Lakers star Luka Doncic, who joined the team in a big trade with Dallas in February, stressed the need for teamwork during James’ recovery. “LeBron needs to take his time. Groin injuries aren’t the worst, but they’re tricky. As a team, we all have to step up,” said Doncic. Since joining the Lakers, he’s been a key player, averaging 24.7 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.6 assists in 11 games. Against the Celtics, he scored a team-high 34 points.
Head coach JJ Redick agreed, urging others to fill the gap. “This is our chance to show our depth. Everyone needs to contribute,” Redick said, pointing to players like Austin Reaves to take on bigger roles.
The Lakers’ upcoming schedule includes four road games against strong teams, testing their ability to compete without James, who missed a month with a similar injury in 2018. While doctors say he could return sooner this time, the team will monitor his progress closely.
James’ injury history adds pressure. In 2018, a groin strain disrupted his first Lakers season, but the team now has more talent, including Doncic and Anthony Davis. Still, replacing James’ leadership and stats (25.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 8.2 assists per game this season) won’t be easy.
“We’ve built a culture where everyone is accountable,” Redick added.
“Tough times will come, but our response matters.” With Doncic leading the way and the team embracing a “next-man-up” attitude, the Lakers hope to stay in the playoff race during this critical stretch.
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Take your time, and get healthy, get ready, 'cause we want you to be you when you come back, that's our best version of ourselves." added Luka Doncic.