Frank Vogel gives update on LeBron James’ ankle ahead of Warriors game

As the Los Angeles Lakers prepare for Wednesday’s play-in tournament matchup against the Golden State Warriors, all eyes are on LeBron James’ health entering the contest.

James has dealt with a right ankle sprain since late March, when Solomon Hill of the Atlanta Hawks fell on James’ ankle when diving for a loose ball.

James missed 27 games since then, the most he’s missed in an entire season during his 18-year career.

The 36-year-old forward returned on the last day of April to face the Sacramento Kings, then faced the Toronto Raptors a few days later. However, James still didn’t feel entirely comfortable with his ankle, even warning that he’ll likely never return to 100 percent.

James returned for the final two games of the season against the Indiana Pacers and the New Orleans Pelicans, guiding the Lakers to wins in both contests.

However, in the fourth quarter against New Orleans Sunday, James tweaked his right ankle after attempting a 360-layup. He fell to the floor and stayed there for a few minutes, then went to the bench for the remainder of the game.

He could be seen smiling and laughing with teammates on the sideline, so it appeared the tweak wasn’t as serious as initially thought.

With two days of rest from games, Lakers head coach Frank Vogel provided an update on the status of James’ ankle before Wednesday’s vital contest.

James had also experienced some soreness after the win over Indiana, which he discussed after that game, so it’s something to monitor going forward.

Nonetheless, Vogel’s update is certainly promising, as a healthy James gives the Lakers the best shot at not only defeating the Warriors in the play-in tournament but also against the Western Conference heavyweights like the Phoenix Suns and the Utah Jazz in the playoffs, among others.