LeBron James Injury: Updates on Cavaliers Star's Knee and Return

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James missed Thursday night's game vs. the Thunder with a sore left knee and will play in Friday's game vs. the Pelicans.

Continue for updates.

James Will Start vs. Pelicans

Friday, Dec. 12

Bleacher Report's Ethan Skolnick provided an update on James' status:

John Reid of NOLA.com previously reported James was a game-time decision:

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After sitting out Thursday night's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder with a sore left knee, the Cavaliers list forward LeBron James as questionable to play against the Pelicans.

The Cavaliers (13-8) are not expected to update James' status until about 90 minutes before tip-off before Friday night's game. Because they played on Thursday, the Cavaliers do not have a shootaround session scheduled for Friday morning in New Orleans.

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James Sits Out vs. Thunder with Sore Knee

Thursday, Dec. 11

Bleacher Report's Ethan Skolnick reported the news that James would not play Thursday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder:

Skolnick also had word from David Blatt on James' status for Fridays' game:

ESPN's Royce Young and Fox Sports' David Amico had more:

Skolnick first reported that the Cavs star would be a game-time decision.

The four-time league MVP is in his first season back with the Cavaliers after four years with the Miami Heat.

Tony Dejak/Associated Press

While we're still awaiting word on the extent of James' soreness, all of northeast Ohio is hoping it's nothing serious. James' prodigal son-like return to his home state first came with massive fanfare and then championship expectations. New teammates Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving will be tasked with picking up the slack as long as James is on the shelf.

In his 12th NBA season, James has never missed more than seven games in a single campaign. Most ailments throughout his career have been confined to minor ankle sprains, with his left ankle in particular being bothersome. Michael Wallace looked at James' injury history last year for ESPN.com, noting he never missed more than five games because of a single injury.

Importantly, James does not have a history of the types of injuries (knees, feet) that can bog a player down as he ages. He also made a concerted effort to lose weight this summer, employing a strict workout regimen and low-carb diet. Though he's long been listed at 250 pounds, James told CNN's Rachel Nichols that's an accurate number for the first time in a while (h/t Kurt Helin of Pro Basketball Talk).

"I'm in the 250ish range, you know, a lot lighter than I've been playing at in the last few years," James said. "But I feel good."

Given his contract structure, James is betting on his health going forward. The deal he signed with the Cavaliers is a one-year contract with a player option for 2015-16. It's possible that James will opt into that extra year regardless, with an influx of revenue due to hit NBA books when the new television deals kick in for 2016-17.  

Still, whether he opts in or out at this point is the last thing on anyone's mind. Get him back on the court and then start worrying about the future.

Follow Tyler Conway (@tylerconway22) on Twitter.