LeBron James expressed the impact of his collision with Kevin Durant in the first quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers’ 122-119 victory over the Phoenix Suns.
The Lakers subsequently ruled James out of Sunday’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers due to a left calf contusion.
The 38-year-old James and Durant’s legs collided as the four-time NBA champion tried to drive inside for a layup eight minutes into the game.
LeBron limped off the court after being hit, clutching his left calf with a pained expression on his face.
When the referee called a foul on Durant, the Lakers star stayed on the court and took a few free throws.
Christian Wood replaced James after sharing a freebie.
But the 19-time All-Star came back in the second quarter and finished with 32 points, 11 rebounds and six assists.
The four-time MVP said he was still feeling discomfort in his leg after Friday’s win.
“I was driving and awkwardly (hit) Durant in the knee and with the force I was applying, it hit me right in the calf and my calf pretty much locked up right there and it shot me feet,” he said
“So, I’m just trying to stay calm and make sure I’m okay and stay as relaxed as possible so I can play the game and be productive.
“Obviously, I’m pretty sore right now because the adrenaline is calming down. I’ve iced it and all that stuff, so it’s pretty sore right now.”
James played 36 minutes on the court Friday, with head coach Darvin Ham unable to limit the star’s workload heading into the 2023-24 season as planned due to the team’s injury woes.
LeBron played 35.0 minutes a night in the first 9 games of the new season, scoring 25.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.0 blocks.
Anthony Davis, meanwhile, returned to the court against the Suns after missing a 34-point loss to the Houston Rockets just days earlier.
Davis was initially listed as questionable with injuries to his left adductor and hip before the Lakers announced he would play in the team’s in-season tournament debut.
“It took me a while to get into the game, just shooting and stuff like that, just trying not to make it worse,” Davis said after Friday’s game.
“But as the game went on, I stopped thinking about it and started playing.
“I felt that a few times during the game, but for the most part, it was good.”
Due to the victory over Phoenix, the Lakers improved to 4 wins and 5 losses this season, but Gabe Vincent, introduced in the offseason, lost his starting opportunity due to knee problems.
Rookies Jalen Hood-Schifino and Jared Vanderbilt have yet to make their 2023-24 debuts after suffering patellar and heel injuries, respectively, in the preseason.
Rui Hachimura, Taurean Prince and Jackson Hayes have also missed time this season.