Luke Walton: LeBron James Not 'Depressed' About Groin Injury, 'Eager' to Return

Los Angeles Lakers head coach Luke Walton has provided an update on LeBron James' injured groin, though he didn't say how close the four-time NBA MVP is to returning. 

Per The Athletic's Joe Vardon, Walton noted James isn't "depressed" about missing time because of the injury, but he's "eager to get back" on the court. 

James suffered the injury during Los Angeles' 127-101 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Dec. 25. 

The Lakers announced James would be day to day after an MRI confirmed a strained left groin. 

James' agent, Rich Paul, told Vardon that a three-week timetable would be "the best-case scenario." Tuesday marks three weeks since James went down, but it's still unclear when he will return. 

ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported on The Hoop Collective podcast (h/t Christian Rivas of Silver Screen and Roll) on Monday that James is "not getting that much better" and "as of last week [the Lakers] were thinking it was going to be at least two weeks" before he was ready to come back. 

The Lakers have fallen apart during James' absence. They are 3-7 in 10 games since Christmas Day and trail the Utah Jazz by 0.5 games for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.