LeBron James missed 17 games with a groin injury before returning on Jan. 31. It was a tough absence for both the Lakers and LeBron. At 34 years old, any drop off in conditioning can make a huge difference. And without LeBron, the Lakers looked very average.
Last week, a report from ESPN’s Brian Windhorst stated that LeBron’s weight had ballooned to 280 pounds as he nursed the injury. LeBron’s trainer disputed the report. And on Wednesday, LeBron took his own jab at the 280-pound figure.
The Lakers star met with the media at practice and ended his baseball-themed reference with a joke about weighing 280 pounds.
The smirk at the end. Well played, LeBron.
LeBron usually plays at between 250 and 260 pounds, so it would have taken a lot to go wrong from a nutrition and conditioning standpoint for LeBron to gain 30 pounds in a matter of weeks.
Given that we’re talking about LeBron James here — one of the best athletes on this planet — that seems unlikely.
