LeBron James has now missed two consecutive games for the Los Angeles Lakers, and his status for Tuesday’s crucial matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves remains up in the air.
The 41-year-old has been dealing with a fresh set of injury concerns, and the Lakers have yet to provide a definitive answer on whether he will be available for one of the most important games on their late-season schedule.
LeBron James Listed Questionable vs. Timberwolves With Hip and Foot Concerns
The Lakers have listed James as questionable for Tuesday’s game against Minnesota, with a right hip contusion and arthritis in his left foot both factoring into the decision.
Head coach JJ Redick confirmed that James did not practice Monday, though he remained involved in the team’s film sessions.
“LeBron was out at practice today. He was obviously present in film,” Redick said. “Everybody else was a full participant. Nothing live today except the stay ready game.”
LeBron James is listed as questionable for Tuesday vs. MIN. His left elbow is apparently healed, but he is also dealing with a right hip contusion, the team says pic.twitter.com/RRMfu48sh5
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) March 10, 2026
Of the two concerns, the foot appears to be the more pressing issue. ESPN’s Malika Andrews reported ahead of Sunday’s game against the Knicks that the arthritis, not the elbow contusion that originally sidelined him, has been the primary factor keeping James off the floor.
MORE: ESPN Analyst Boldly Claims the ‘Lakers Are a Really Good Team’ When LeBron James Doesn’t Play
The original injury stemmed from a fourth-quarter collision with the Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokić in last Thursday’s game. James went up for a shot around the rim, was challenged by the Nuggets center, and hit the floor hard with no foul called.
He briefly returned but was done for the night with 22 seconds left, finishing with 16 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block in a 120-113 loss.
The arthritis revelation drew candid reactions from around the league. Former All-Star DeMarcus Cousins did not mince words during a recent broadcast discussion.
“He’s dealing with arthritis in his foot. That sounds like some old man s**t,” Cousins said, drawing laughter from former guard Lou Williams. “You don’t see arthritis on the injury report,” he added.
Delivered with humor, the remarks nonetheless underscored the genuinely unprecedented territory James is navigating at age 41.
And yet, the numbers remain remarkable. On the season, James is averaging 21.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 7.0 assists, and 1.1 steals per game across 44 appearances while shooting 50.4% from the field.
Sports data journalist Lev Akabas has noted that James is effectively “breaking the age curve” for NBA performance. It’s a phrase that feels less like hyperbole and more like an accurate statistical description at this point.
Why Tuesday’s Game Matters, and What James’ Absence Costs the Lakers
The timing could hardly be worse. Los Angeles sits at 39-25, tied with Denver for fifth in the Western Conference and one game behind the third-place Timberwolves. With only 18 regular-season games remaining, every contest carries real weight in terms of playoff seeding.
Tuesday’s game against Minnesota is not just another game on the schedule; it is a direct statement opportunity against a team the Lakers could very well face in the postseason. The Timberwolves squad is the one that eliminated them in five games in last year’s first round.
James’ absence also disrupts something the Lakers have been carefully building. Just before the game against the Nuggets, Luka Dončić pushed back on the narrative that the team’s three stars — including Austin Reaves — don’t mesh well together, pointing to chemistry that has been slowly developing since the All-Star break.
“We’ve been playing together since the All-Star break,” Dončić said. “Obviously, the chemistry is going to keep building every day, every game we play.” Every game James misses chips away at that progress.
The underlying numbers add another layer of complexity.
The Lakers are 9-2 in games without James this season when Dončić and Reaves are both available, but the team also carries a -8 scoring differential with James on the court versus a +62 differential without him across their respective minutes.
Those figures have fueled debate all season, though the sample sizes and contexts are nuanced enough to resist simple conclusions.
If James cannot go on Tuesday, Rui Hachimura will continue to start in his place. The Japanese forward has acquitted himself well in the role, posting 13 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block in Sunday’s win over the Knicks.
Dončić and Reaves, who combined for 60 of the Lakers’ 110 points in that victory, will once again be asked to carry the offensive load. The team will re-evaluate James on Tuesday morning before making a final call on his availability.
