The Lakers have had a nightmare start to the season and nine of the eleven opening games have ended in defeat.

The team is second to last in the Western Conference.

Last night they fell in the Los Angeles derby against the LA Clippers, 101-114, and the team's fixed star LeBron James limped off the field with 5.41 left in the game.

James made his way to one groin and walked, slowly, straight out to the dressing room.

He also limped into the press conference afterwards.

- I'm fine, apart from the injury, says James, who was the top scorer in the game with his 30 points.

Making his 20th season in the NBA

He doesn't want to compare last night's injury to the groin injury he suffered in the 2018-2019 season.

That time he missed 17 straight games, his longest injury absence of his career.

- I didn't do anything extreme in that situation, but when I landed I felt a cramp or stretch in the groin.

The 37-year-old veteran -- in his 20th season in the NBA -- also missed Monday's game against Utah because of a sore left foot.

- You act as if I have missed every single game this season.

I have missed

match.

And if this had been in the playoffs, I would have played.

Now I will get treatment and if it feels okay on Friday I will play then.

On the way to the all-time scoring record

LeBron James is well on his way to becoming the NBA's all-time leading scorer.

He currently stands at 37,311 points and should during the season pass the leader Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who stands at 38,387.

The victory last night was the Clippers' ninth straight against the local rival.

MORE NBA: LeBron on age taunts: 'I just laugh at it' (Oct 2, 2021)

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LeBron James and some of the teammates of the LA Lakers during the media day before the NBA season.

Photo: Instagram/ESPN