Lakers' LeBron James Out vs. Kawhi Leonard, Clippers with Ankle Injury

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James will miss Tuesday's game against Kawhi Leonard and the Los Angeles Clippers because of an ankle injury, per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.

James has been mostly healthy this season, though he has missed several matchups while dealing with ankle injuries.

Additionally, James has also sat out a number of back-to-backs while the Purple and Gold try to manage his workload. However, he admitted in December that he was beginning to deal with some fatigue.

At 39 years old, there's always some level of concern when James is unable to suit up, especially considering he hasn't played more than 67 games in a season since the 2017-18 campaign due to injuries.

While James is the oldest active player in the NBA, he remains one of the league's best. He's averaging 24.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 7.4 assists in 40 games this season while shooting 52 percent from the floor and 39.1 percent from deep.

The Lakers have struggled with consistency this season and sit ninth in the Western Conference with a 22-22 record. Keeping James healthy down the stretch is a must if the Purple and Gold hope to secure a playoff berth, and that's easier said than done.