LeBron James may have graced the court on Wednesday night, leading the Lakers to a 136-124 victory over the Grizzlies, but Lakers fans shouldn’t get too comfortable. Despite the win, James’ availability for the remaining nine regular season games remains a question mark.

This isn’t the first rodeo for James and his troublesome ankle. The nagging injury, a constant companion over the past few seasons, has forced the 39-year-old superstar to adopt a meticulous balancing act.

“Just be very strategic on what, obviously games and how many days in between games and flights and things of that nature,” James explained to reporters after the game, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “Understand it and see how my ankle and foot is feeling, but I’m just being very smart about it.”

This strategic approach prioritizes James’ health above all else. He acknowledges the Lakers’ precarious playoff positioning (currently sitting at 41-32), but emphasizes that a healthy team, himself included, is the key to success.

“Obviously, we are what we are,” James continued, “but our health has always been the most important part of our ball club, not just one individual but for me looking out for myself when it comes to injury and knowing my foot and ankle and things and how it reacts and how its been over the last couple of years. You know just always, you know, keep a hefty eye on them.”

The impact of James’ absence was evident in the Lakers’ wild double-overtime victory on Tuesday. With James sidelined, Anthony Davis exploded for a dominant 34 points and 23 rebounds, while Austin Reaves enjoyed a career night with 29 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists.

Here’s the surprising kicker: the Lakers boast a higher winning percentage without James (60%) compared to when he plays (55%) this season. This intriguing statistic adds another layer of complexity to the Lakers’ playoff push.

Can the Lakers maintain this surprising success without their leader on the court, or will James’ strategic management of his ankle injury ultimately determine their postseason fate? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure: LeBron James is walking a tightrope, balancing his desire to contribute with the absolute necessity of prioritizing his health.