The Los Angeles Lakers take on the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday. The Thunder have the best record in the NBA, so it will be a tough game for the Lakers. 

The good news for Los Angeles is that LeBron James has been upgraded from probable to available. James was listed as probable with a left groin strain. 

The leading scorer in NBA history, James suffered a left groin injury against the Boston Celtics in March. He missed seven games before returning against the Chicago Bulls. 

James has appeared in 66 games for the Lakers this season. He’s averaging 24.6 points, 8.0 rebounds and 8.4 assists while shooting 51.2% from the field, 37.8% from beyond the arc and 77.7% from the free-throw line. 

LeBron James warming up before a game.

© Soobum Im-Imagn Images

Los Angeles enters the OKC game in third place in the Western Conference standings. If the regular season ended today, the Lakers would face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2025 playoffs. 

The Lakers are 0-1 against the Thunder this season. However, Los Angeles hasn’t faced OKC with Luka Doncic yet. Doncic, of course, was traded by the Dallas Mavericks to the Lakers in February. 

James joined the Lakers in 2018. He led the franchise to the 2020 championship against the Miami Heat at the Walt Disney World bubble.