JUST IN: As the Lakers prepare for the 2024 postseason, LeBron James makes upbeat remarks about his health.

LeBron James has expressed optimism about his health as the Los Angeles Lakers prepare for the 2024 postseason, providing encouraging comments for fans of the franchise. Following the conclusion of the regular season, James emphasized his dedication to rehabilitating his foot and ankle during the offseason, which has yielded positive results for him.

Despite being the oldest player in the NBA, James had a remarkable run in the 2023-24 regular season, playing in the majority of the Lakers’ games and showcasing impressive stats. He missed only 11 games out of 82 and maintained averages of 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game, with strong shooting percentages from the field and beyond the arc.

This season marked James’ highest number of appearances since the 2017-18 season, where he played in all 82 games for the Cleveland Cavaliers and led them to an NBA Finals appearance.

With James leading the team, the Lakers secured a 47-35 record in the regular season, positioning them as the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference for the play-in tournament.

To advance to the Western Conference playoffs, the Lakers must win at least one game in the play-in tournament. Their first contest is against the New Orleans Pelicans, with whom they recently secured a victory. A win against the Pelicans will grant the Lakers the No. 7 seed, while a loss will lead to a matchup against the winner of the Golden State Warriors vs. Sacramento Kings play-in game for the No. 8 seed.

Fans are hopeful that James and the Lakers will secure their playoff spot with a victory over the Pelicans.