On Wednesday night, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported that James suffered an injury during the final game of the series.
Via McMenamin: “Story filed to ESPN.com: LeBron James suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee from his collision with Donte DiVincenzo in Wednesday’s Game 5, a league source told ESPN. The injury entails a 3-5 week recovery timeline.”
Story filed to https://t.co/oAsD1rYqjW: LeBron James suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee from his collision with Donte DiVincenzo in Wednesday’s Game 5, a league source told ESPN. The injury entails a 3-5 week recovery timeline.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) May 2, 2025
Many fans reacted to the report from McMenamin.
@AnthonyIrwinLA: “The people calling this an excuse injury ignoring that it came in game five and wouldn’t actually serve any such purpose are funny lol”
@warriorsworld: “Grade 2 MCL injuries matter now?”
@LongLiveKobe24: “Name a year lebron doesn’t get a injury after they lose to soften the blow”
@jtbucketsss: “I was told if you were playing you’re not hurt”
@BolWrld: “Faked a injury cause he got 1st rounded 😭😭”
@BarstoolBigCat: “Crazy timing!”
@Brookwood408: “So Curry 2016 injury is a valid excuse then”
@33643pts: “Imagine we won game 5 then found out the next morning Lebron was out for the playoffs lmfaoooo”
@Brad_Inman: “Has LeBron ever not blamed a playoff loss on an injury he never disclosed until it was over?”
James finished his 22nd NBA season with averages of 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.2 assist and 1.0 steals per contest while shooting 51.3% from the field and 37.6% from the three-point range in 70 games.
He has spent seven years with the Lakers.
