LeBron James’ bothersome left ankle continues to plague the Los Angeles Lakers superstar, as he is now expected to miss multiple weeks dealing with the lingering injury.

James initially suffered a left foot injury on January 25th against the Los Angeles Clippers, forcing him to miss one game. He subsequently re-aggravated the ankle sprain this week in a matchup against the Dallas Mavericks.

The swelling and soreness has not subsided since, causing James to sit out the Lakers’ last two games. The team announced he is now likely to miss at least three more weeks before being re-evaluated.

This marks James’ third separate ankle setback this season, indicating an issue that he has been unable to shake. It’s a worrisome trend for the 38-year old James, who has avoided major injury for most of his legendary career.

With the Lakers battling for a play-in spot in the crowded Western Conference, James’ absence comes at an inopportune time. The team will now rely heavily on Anthony Davis to carry the load, supported by the inconsistent Russell Westbrook.

Considering James’ age and mileage, the Lakers training staff may exercise caution bringing him back this season. With the playoffs a long shot for LA, the priority becomes protecting their star for a full recovery during the offseason.

For now, the Lakers will simply have to weather the storm without their leader. But James’ nagging ankle woes continue to be a dark cloud over the team’s fluctuating fortunes.