The Los Angeles Lakers held their first practice since Sunday’s win against Portland on Wednesday. However, their key player, LeBron James, was notably absent. Amidst trade rumors and a noticeable dip in his performance, James looks to be seeking solutions away from the game.
“LeBron is not with the team right now,” head coach JJ Redick told reporters while at practice on Wednesday. “He’s out for personal reasons, excused absence.”
James missed Sunday’s game with soreness in his left foot against the Portland Trail Blazers, a 107-98 Lakers win. It was the first game the 39-year-old missed, abandoning his ambitious goal of playing all 82 games this season.
LeBron James Faces A Challenging Chapter
Realistically, LeBron taking this time to step away doesn’t come at a bad time. Luckily for the Lakers and James, they have four days between games, due to the NBA Cup, with their next matchup coming against Minnesota on Friday
As of now, it’s unclear when James will return to the starting lineup or if he will continue to take time away from the team. ESPN is reporting that James is likely to miss Friday’s game as well.
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Now that James’ 82-game streak is over, the Lakers must determine how best to use him—either by improving his role or trading him.
On Wednesday, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on Get Up ESPN, that the Golden State Warriors will, “definitely monitor” James, as they look to pick up another star alongside Stephen Curry.
However, should the Warriors decide to trade for LeBron, his recent workload and performance are factors they should consider.
LeBron James’ Unexpected Struggles
In recent games, LeBron has looked gassed.
“In game, he’s asked for a sub a couple times because he’s gassed,” Redick said. “For us, we have to be cognizant as we play more and more games, just the cumulative effect of playing a lot of minutes and Sunday, being banged up with the foot thing, it felt like a good opportunity for him to get some rest.”
On the season, James is averaging 23 points on 49.5% shooting, 9.1 assists, and 8.0 rebounds. Surprisingly, and for the first time since 2018, they’ve been better with him off the floor. They sit at a minus-8.4 net rating with James on, a plus-4.1 net rating when he sits. James’ -8.4 net rating is the worst among all Lakers starters and by far the worst figure of his career.
To benefit both himself and the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James should focus on a structured workload management plan tailored to his age and performance needs. As he approaches his 40th birthday, James maintains a strong partnership with his long-time athletic trainer, Mike Mancias, and coach, JJ Redick to ensure his training load is optimized.
This collaboration allows James to sustain his elite level of play while minimizing injury risks, and balancing the demands of the season. By prioritizing rest and recovery, James can extend his career, continue his contributions to the Lakers, and solidify his lasting legacy.