The Los Angeles Lakers may be getting LeBron James back from injury before the end of the season, after all. The reports on James indicate the veteran forward is eyeing a return to the hardwood for the last week of the regular season, giving him some time to ramp up before a potential playoff run. The Lakers championship odds shot up immediately after the news hit the web.
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Lakers Championship Odds Rise Following LeBron James Injury News
Per BetMGM, the Lakers were listed at 35-1 before Thursday’s update on LeBron James. Now, those odds are at at 30-1. The Lakers currently sit in 10th place in the Western Conference with a 36-37 record.
Unfortunately for Lakers fans excited about the latest news, James took to social media shortly after the report went viral to refute any notion that a ‘target date’ for his return has been mapped out.
“There wasn’t an evaluation today and there hasn’t been any target date for my return,” he said on Twitter. “I’m just working around the clock, every day(3X a day) to give myself to best chance of coming back full strength whenever that is. God bless y’all sources. I speak for myself!”
Both The Athletic and ESPN reported that LeBron may be looking to get a few games under his belt before the postseason begins. However, neither actually said that an evaluation took place on Thursday morning.
“A league source familiar with LeBron James’ thinking told me that he believes LeBron will push [to play] over the final 3 games the Lakers play in Los Angeles,” ESPN’s Dave McMenamin said on SportsCenter.
If LeBron was really trying to get three games under his belt, he would be eyeing a return for the April 5 tilt against the Clippers. The Lakers are currently two games behind the Clippers for ninth place, 2.5 games behind the Phoenix Suns for eighth. The Lakers would match up against the Suns in the play-in tournament if the season were to end today.
There still may be very little clarity on LeBron James‘ return from injury, but the latest Lakers championship odds would indicate there was some truth behind all the reports today.
Be sure to use OddsShopper tools to find the best value on NBA bets for the remainder of the season!
