LeBron James out Lakers' Next 2 Games with Groin Injury, Won't Travel with Team

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James will miss at least the next two games with a groin injury that has kept him out since Christmas.

According to ESPN.com's Dave McMenamin, James' agent, Rich Paul, said LeBron will not join the Lakers on their two-game road trip before having his injury re-evaluated Wednesday in Los Angeles.

James has missed the past 11 games with the groin ailment.

LeBron suffered the injury during a 127-101 win over the Golden State Warriors on Christmas Day, and the Lakers have gone just 4-7 during his absence.

Per McMenamin, James has made progress recently by taking part in half-court shooting and passing drills at the team practice facility this week.

When healthy, James has been every bit as good as advertised for the Lakers this season with averages of 27.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game.

While the news regarding LeBron is somewhat encouraging since it suggests there could be a light at the end of the tunnel, it also means the Lakers will be without their best player against two of the Western Conference's top teams in the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets.

A return against the Warriors on Jan. 21 remains possible.

Because of their recent slide without James, the Lakers are tied with the Utah Jazz for eighth in the Western Conference at 24-21. Although they are just two games out of fourth place, they are even closer to falling out of a playoff spot altogether.

Until James returns, much of the burden will continue to fall on the shoulders of Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball.