LeBron cleared to return to practice next week

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James has been cleared to return to practice next week, about one month after he suffered a strained groin on Christmas Day.

James, 34, will not travel with the team for road games against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday and the Houston Rockets on Saturday.

The four-time NBA MVP was evaluated by the team's medical staff on Wednesday. No date was set for his first game back, with a statement released by the Lakers saying only that he would "progress towards a return to game play thereafter."

So far, the Lakers are 4-7 since James got hurt in the Dec. 25 victory at Golden State, including a 107-100 win against the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday.

In his first season with Los Angeles, James is averaging 27.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.1 assists in 34 games.

--Field Level Media