LeBron James is one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He has won four NBA championships, four NBA Most Valuable Player Awards, and two Olympic gold medals. However, like all athletes, he has had to deal with injuries throughout his career. In this article, we will take a closer look at how many games LeBron James has missed in his NBA career.
Section 1: Early Years
LeBron James was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003. He played in all 82 games in his rookie season and missed only four games in his second season. However, in his third season, he suffered a high ankle sprain that caused him to miss nine games. This was the first significant injury of his career.
In the following season, James played in all 82 games and led the Cavaliers to the NBA Finals. However, in the playoffs, he suffered a sprained wrist that caused him to miss one game. In the 2007-08 season, James missed four games due to a sprained finger.
Section 2: Miami Heat Years
In 2010, LeBron James signed with the Miami Heat. In his first season with the Heat, he missed three games due to an ankle injury. In the following season, he missed four games due to a pulled hamstring and a concussion.
In the 2012-13 season, James played in all 82 games and led the Heat to their second consecutive NBA championship. However, in the playoffs, he suffered a strained groin that caused him to miss one game. In the 2013-14 season, James missed two games due to back spasms.
Section 3: Return to Cleveland
In 2014, LeBron James returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers. In his first season back, he missed eight games due to knee and back injuries. In the following season, he missed six games due to a sore knee.
In the 2016-17 season, James played in all 82 games and led the Cavaliers to their third consecutive NBA Finals. However, in the playoffs, he suffered a sprained ankle that caused him to miss one game. In the 2017-18 season, James missed eight games due to a strained groin.
Section 4: Los Angeles Lakers Years
In 2018, LeBron James signed with the Los Angeles Lakers. In his first season with the Lakers, he missed 17 games due to a groin injury. This was the most significant injury of his career, and it caused him to miss five weeks of action.
In the 2019-20 season, James played in all but one game before the season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the following season, he missed 27 games due to a high ankle sprain. This was the most games he had missed in a single season in his career.
Conclusion
LeBron James has missed a total of 118 regular-season games in his NBA career. This is out of a possible 1,310 games, which means he has played in 91% of his team’s regular-season games. He has also missed 28 playoff games out of a possible 266, which means he has played in 89% of his team’s playoff games.
Despite missing some games due to injuries throughout his career, LeBron James has still been one of the most durable players in NBA history. He has been able to maintain a high level of performance even as he has aged, and he continues to be one of the best players in the league today.
