LeBron James' return to the Los Angeles Lakers lineup isn't quite at hand just yet.

The 36-year-old James had been hoping to return from his right ankle injury in time for Wednesday's date with the Houston Rockets, but confirmed on Wednesday that he wasn't ready.

"Getting close, but I won't be in the lineup tonight, but more importantly I will be there to put that championship banner in the rafters at Staples Center in front of our fans," James wrote on Twitter. 

Yahoo! Sports' Chris Haynes reports that Saturday against the Indiana Pacers is now the game in which the four-time NBA Most Valuable Player is most likely to return to the court.