Lakers' LeBron James to Return from Groin Injury vs. Bulls After 2-Week Absence

LeBron James will return to the Los Angeles Lakers lineup on Saturday night against the Chicago Bulls after missing the last two weeks with a groin injury.

ESPN's Shams Charania reported the news just prior to tip:

Rui Hachimura is also probable to play against the Bulls after missing 10 games with left patellar tendinopathy, per ESPN's Dave McMenamin.

James was on track to potentially play his most games in a season since joining the Lakers before a groin injury suffered in a March 8 loss to the Boston Celtics.

The Lakers looked like they were going to fall apart without James, losing three straight games from March 8-14. They rebounded with a three-game winning streak immediately after that.

Head coach JJ Redick previously told reporters the hope was that James would be able to return Saturday to face the Bulls. His six-game absence is his longest stretch of consecutive games missed since the 2022-23 season.

The Lakers have done a great job navigating injuries to several key players in the second half of the season. James, Hachimura and Maxi Kleber all missed extended periods.

Looking ahead to the playoffs, the Lakers' ceiling will be determined by how much they are able to get from James and Luka Dončić.

James has been incredible this season, despite being 40 years old now. The future Hall of Famer is averaging 25.0 points, 8.5 assists and 8.2 rebounds per game in 58 starts.

His return to the lineup is great news for the Lakers as they aim to solidify their standing in the Western Conference playoff race.