VIDEO: LeBron James Claims Patrick Beverley's Knee to His Groin Set Him Back in Injury Recovery
By Michael Luciano
Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James didn't have the best second half against the Clippers. The King didn't even make 40% of his shots and was rejected on one of the game's final possessions by Patrick Beverley. James, who was nursing a groin injury to begin with heading into this game, attributed his poor performance and subsequent re-aggravation of his injury to Beverley kneeing him in the afflicted area early on in the game.
Lakers’ LeBron James: “I felt healthy going into the game. The second or third defensive possession, I got kneed in the groin taking a charge from Pat Beverley. That kind of sent me back to where I was five days ago.” pic.twitter.com/KHWoCjyMZQ
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) December 26, 2019
James was hit in the groin not even two minutes after the game started, and it's clear that he never was able to explode to the rim like he wanted to over the course of the rivalry contest.
#LakeShow down goes the King. Patrick Beverley kneed him in the groin. #NBAXmas x #NBA × #ClipperNation pic.twitter.com/YnN2862VQk
— Mike Dixon Sports (@MikeDixon__) December 26, 2019
I don't care how many MVP trophies or championship rings you have, if you get hit right in the jewels as hard as Beverley hit James on that play, you're going to the ground. This doesn't sound like an excuse for poor play, as a legit shot to that area can knock you totally out of whatever rhythm you were in, especially considering he was already recuperating from an ailment to the region.