LOS ANGELES – Anthony Davis is just days away from returning from a nearly nine-week absence and LeBron James has advanced to “light work” on the court, Lakers coach Frank Vogel said before his team’s defeat for the Utah Jazz by 111-97 on Monday.
Vogel said Davis, who has been sidelined since Feb. 14 with calf tension and tendinosis in his right leg, was able to do a “good job” on the track after the morning meeting in Los Angeles and “will increase “for the next two days before the Lakers’ next game Thursday, on the road against the Dallas Mavericks.
According to Vogel, the last hurdle for Davis is working to get the wind back.
“The most important thing is conditioning right now,” Vogel said. “He’s healthy. But without playing and really not being able to increase his physical activity on the court for the last two months, it’s going to be a while before the wind gets under him and obviously that’s the most important thing. if his legs aren’t under him, we don’t want him to risk aggravating the injury or another injury. We want to keep a close eye on him. “
When a reporter suggested Davis could miss Thursday’s game and return later on his next four-game trip to Los Angeles, teammate Kyle Kuzma put some pressure on him.
“Your ass better play,” Kuzma said. “It has been out [how many] months? I hope he’s ready. “
James has been out since March 20, when he suffered a high right ankle sprain against the Atlanta Hawks.
The Lakers have managed to hold on strong since their stars fell, going 14-15 since Davis ’injury and 7-8 since missing Davis and James, who arrived Monday.
Vogel warned that while the news from Davis and James is encouraging, the Lakers still have their work cut out for them without the dominant duo. Davis ’playing time, for example, will be restricted to the 15-minute range in each of his first two games back in training, according to Vogel.
“I think we’re not there yet, to be honest,” Vogel said when asked if the defending champions were finally out of the woods. “I know not, my coaching staff doesn’t. Even when Anthony comes back, it will be in a few minutes and a few … We’re still on a stretch where we have to compete and win games for the majority without these guys.”
While Davis ’potential return can be traced back to the calendar, it is believed James is still weeks away from returning to the game’s action, sources told ESPN.
“Trying to do a little more with his activity every day,” Vogel said of James.