The King of Pain?

Los Angeles Lakers All-Star point forward LeBron James appeared to bang up his knee in a collision with Boston Celtics All-Star shooting guard Jaylen Brown late in the second quarter of their Christmas Day battle.

Both players stayed on the hardwood for what felt like a minute in real time. When Brown got up, he headed straight for Boston’s locker room, before eventually returning to the floor and finishing out the game, a 126-115 Celtics road win.

Los Angeles Lakers All-Star point forward LeBron James appeared to bang up his knee in a collision with Boston Celtics All-Star shooting guard Jaylen Brown late in the second quarter of their Christmas Day battle.

Both players stayed on the hardwood for what felt like a minute in real time. When Brown got up, he headed straight for Boston’s locker room, before eventually returning to the floor and finishing out the game, a 126-115 Celtics road win.

LeBron James and Jaylen Brown were shaken up after colliding into each other.

James subbed out of the game but later returned. Brown went back to the locker room. pic.twitter.com/O7DS9qW1IG

— ESPN (@espn) December 25, 2023

“My knee is a little sore right now,” James conceded in the locker room postgame. “The best thing — finally, the schedule is kind of in our favor with two days before we have to play again. Just a freak thing right there between me and Jaylen Brown. Happy I was able to walk off on my own power, but definitely a little sore right now.”

With today’s loss, Los Angeles has now gone 2-6 since winning the NBA’s inaugural In-Season Tournament, in a 123-108 championship game victory over the Indiana Pacers that does not count towards their middling 16-15 season record.

Losing James for any amount of time could be incredibly detrimental for the club’s standing in the West. Creators like Austin Reaves and D’Angelo Russell may see more run, as two of the team’s better non-James playmakers.