One of the best players and the face of the Los Angeles Lakers has found himself sidelined because of a groin injury that he suffered earlier this month. This is not what the Lakers needed considering that they have not been their best ever since LeBron James has been out for weeks now. Having said that, the team is now in a situation where they will need to make a major decision regarding this “dilemma.”

When it was announced that LeBron James would be out for weeks because of his injury, it brought about a lot of disappointment, not only for his team but for fans and supporters too. At 39 years old, the elite player has proven longevity and consistency and has taken the Lakers to greater heights. Although the team now has Luka Doncic, it does not remove the feeling of James not being around.

The type of injury: Determining its impact and severity

As per reports and medical feedback, the Lakers star player has sustained a right leg groin injury that has paused his play for weeks. The star has now missed the Lakers’ past six games, according to USA Today, and this is a sign that he needed and probably still needs more time to recover from home and a good rehabilitation program to get him right soon.

Another key factor is his age. He is 39 and according to medical research and explanations, the older you get, the slower the healing process, not only related to a groin injury but any other type of injury one might succumb to. Therefore, James will have to be out longer than we anticipate, and considering how intense basketball is, he needs all the time to get back on track.

Despite his injury, LeBron James is still considered day-to-day, according to coach JJ Redick. USA Today states that prior to the injury, James played 35 minutes against the Celtics and finished with 22 points, 14 rebounds, and 9 assists. We all know James has been an excellent asset to the NBA; therefore, his injury can also be perceived as a sign of the hard work he has put in and he just got burnt. We are hoping for a speedy recovery.

The Lakers are facing a major decision: Have they found a potential replacement?

It is probably sad to think about this, but the show must go on, no matter how much one has invested in a league or team. Since James has been away, Athlon Sports reports that Jordan Goodwin, a two-way guard who averages 29 minutes per game, has filled in for James. NBA rules say that two-way players have a limitation of 50 games per season and Goodwin is left with less than ten.

Another player, Trey Johnson III, also joined the Lakers, and he has nine players left. What this means is that the Lakers might have to make a major decision to give these two players full-time contracts. However, it is nothing they need to rush about because, as a team, they are trying to adjust to James not being there and wanting to decipher if this decision will be good for the Lakers.

Another problem is that rushing LeBron James’ healing process will jeopardise his career and life too, and he will not play to his fullest potential, which might just be a loss or the same as not having him on the basketball court. The Lakers may have a bleak future with a waning star and few possibilities for reconstruction if his illness is not properly managed.

McMenamin reported that a source familiar with the Lakers’ thinking told ESPN that they would not be in a rush to make a change, using the last few weeks of the regular season to continue collecting information on each player involved. The source said that having to make decisions regarding the back end of the roster because the two-way players are standing out is a “good problem to have.”