Opinion: LeBron James' return only adds to the Lakers' intrigue

LOS ANGELES — LeBron James’ return to action definitely wasn’t "back in no time," as he promised post-Christmas, but it was worth the wait for the Los Angeles Lakers.

In a thrilling 123-120 overtime victory over the local rival Los Angeles Clippers, James put his team ahead for the final time on a nerveless jump shot with just over a minute remaining to set up the win. Earlier, he had a chance to seal the victory in regulation but had the ball stripped by Tobias Harris with four seconds left. The Lakers were also recipients of a fortuitous late foul call, when Lance Stephenson appeared to elbow Clippers big man Boban Marjanovic, but the call went the other way.

So much for the Lakers watching James’ playing time carefully as he came back from a groin strain sustained against the Golden State Warriors on Christmas Day. By the time things were through he had logged 40 minutes, collecting 24 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists.

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"I'm ecstatic about being back out there, but after being out five weeks I am feeling it right now. I wish I could click my shoes together and be back home in my bed," James said.

Whether coincidental to his reappearance or a direct result of it, there was more drama and far more buzz around the Lakers than there has been for the past five weeks.

At times it was like he had never been away. Eh, kind of. Because James has been away, gone for so long that by the end it had, in truth, gotten sort of weird.

On a near-daily basis head coach Luke Walton was asked about the condition of his biggest star, every time he made it sound like a comeback was close, but not quite there yet. All the way from the yuletide season, right up until the morning of the final day in January, hours before James took on the Clippers.

Chances are we will never quite know what it was all about. At the time of the injury, James seemed mightily relieved that the groin strain he sustained was not more serious. Indeed, a few millimeters of torn tissue could have torpedoed his entire season.

As it was, his absence put a serious strain on the Lakers’ chances of getting anything out of the campaign, slipping to a record of 6-11 without him, bad enough to create a slide from fourth place in the Western Conference all the way down to ninth.

"I just tried to stay as positive as possible," James added. "I had to be patient and I am not patient at all. The most I've ever sat out was two weeks. I didn't come here to sit on the bench. I love clothes, but I didn't come here to wear a suit and sit on the bench."

Was he hurt more seriously than was suggested? Did he take the opportunity to preserve some sap in his 34-year-old legs, either for next season, for a playoff run or even for the possible arrival of Anthony Davis?

Ah yes, Davis, the talking point of all talking points as the trade deadline approaches. James has made no secret of his admiration for the New Orleans Pelicans center, the player he has seemingly identified as the one capable of helping him bring an NBA championship to Los Angeles.

Back when James got hurt while reaching for a loose ball against the Warriors, a partnership with Davis was nothing more than a mere possibility, and one far more likely to happen later than sooner. No longer, not after Davis dropped a bombshell by saying he wanted out of New Orleans and doing everything short of dyeing his eyebrow purple and gold to make it clear that he aspires to be a Laker.

These are the strangest of times in the NBA. The action on the hardwood continues, but even when games go to dramatic overtime finishes everyone is paying far more salivating attention to what happens away from the court, across boardrooms and GM’s offices and the screens of agents’ cell phones.

That’s where James might truly have proved his worth. If the lure of playing with James turns out to be enough to get Davis to the Lakers, it will have been a power play stronger than any cut to the basket followed by a thunderous dunk.

James had his moments on Thursday. He turned the ball over too often early, got into his stride before too long, hit on a huge 27-footer and even took a technical free throw despite being miserable from the stripe prior to the layoff. He even got a rousing reception from Clippers fans — this is a strange kind of rivalry — and generally put himself about physically.

He has the All Star Game in two weeks, where his role as a team captain will set up the juicy possibility of him picking Davis in the draft, but with him back the Lakers are suddenly the most interesting team in the league again, whether you love them or resent all they stand for.

Follow Martin Rogers on Twitter @RogersJourno.