Physical Therapist Says LeBron James Was Playing Through 'Pain, Pain, Pain'

Dr. Karen Joubert claimed James' should've been sidelined for six months, not six weeks.

March 23, 2019

It appears LeBron James' groin injury was much more severe than he let on.

Hours after the Lakers were eliminated from playoff contention, a Los Angeles-area physician shared an Instagram post that shed more light on the All-Star's condition. Dr. Karen Joubert, owner of Joubert Physical Therapy in Beverly Hills, posted a photo of her standing next to James with a lengthy caption addressing the recent groin strain that sidelined him for over a month. Joubert applauded James for his commitment to his team and choosing to return to the court despite his pain.

"I want you all to know how bad his injury was and is, the pain he endured," the doctor wrote in a now-deleted Instagram post. "Along with his amazing trainer, Mike Mancias, he was on the court in 6 weeks, it should have been 6 months. Unselfishly, he endured pain, pain, pain. He did not want to let the Lakers down, the fans down. But I know what he went through! I learned about determination, the will to win, how to get the job done. He is a force to be reckoned with. @kingjames @mikemancias1."

You can check out a screenshot of the post below.

James's made his big return at the end of January when he led the Lakers to a 123-120 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. The superstar forward spoke about his recovery and 17-game absence after the matchup, admitting he still had some work to do.

James has averaged 27.4 points, 8.1 assists, and 8.5 rebounds within 52 games during the 2018-19 season. The Lakers are now preparing to take on the Sacramento Kings this Sunday.