Lakers upgrade LeBron James to doubtful for Sunday

LeBron James might be back sooner than anyone else thought.

After insisting Thursday that he had no “target date” for a return to play and “I speak for myself” regarding his right foot tendon injury, James was upgraded Saturday to “doubtful” for Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bulls – his first status change in nearly a month.

James has missed 13 consecutive games with the injury, which he aggravated Feb. 26 against the Dallas Mavericks. James’ insistence on playing through the injury in that road win is a sign of his stubbornness when it comes to gritting through pain – and perhaps foreshadowing for his comeback to action.

Teammates and James himself have said he’s working out three times a day in his efforts to return. The Lakers said Thursday that he had been approved for basketball activities, and further media reports suggested he might return in the final week of the season. To date, James has only been seen publicly doing spot shooting. On Friday following a workout, James was wearing a knee-high sleeve on his right lower leg.

The Lakers have eight games remaining on the schedule. As of Saturday afternoon, the 37-37 Lakers were in eighth in the West, one of the preferred play-in spots. The team has gone 8-5 with James sidelined.

When healthy, James has been one of the team’s most productive players. At 38, he’s averaging 29.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, 6.9 assists and shooting 50.1% from the field. But injuries have been an obstacle during his Lakers’ tenure: This season, he’s played only 47 of 74 possible games.

The Lakers are also hoping another starter is available against the Bulls: After missing Friday’s game with right hip soreness, D’Angelo Russell was listed as questionable for Sunday.