The Los Angeles Lakers received their first real injury update of the season on LeBron James, and it comes with a note of caution. Dave McMenamin of ESPN reported that “JJ Redick says LeBron James is dealing with nerve irritation in his glute and was held out of practice Tuesday. Gabe Vincent, Marcus Smart and Adou Thiero were also out with injuries.”
According to McMenamin, James’ camp has told the Lakers to be “overly cautious” with his workload this season. It’s a reminder of where James stands in his legendary career: a 40-year-old forward preparing for his 23rd NBA campaign.
LeBron’s Ongoing Battle With Injuries
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James played 70 games last season, averaging 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists, finishing sixth in MVP voting and landing on the All-NBA Second Team. But his postseason ended with a knee injury in the first round against Minnesota, adding to a string of issues that have included foot and hamstring problems in recent years.
“That’s always the challenge: How can I get my body close to 100 percent?” James told McMenamin at Lakers media day. “Obviously, coming off the MCL sprain last year … the foot has kind of given me a little problem from time to time throughout the course of the last few seasons. So, that’s always the challenge of seeing how I can get my body as close to 100 percent where I can go out and perform at a high level.”
Lakers Emphasizing the Long Game
James acknowledged he’s still “ramping things back up” and doesn’t expect to be at peak form in September. What matters is being ready when it counts. “Obviously, I want to be out there as much as I can … but we know where I’m at, and the coaching staff knows where I’m at. It’s Year 23 for me. I got a lot of miles on my game. … Even if I’m not on the floor, I’m always in tune to what we’re doing.”
Looking Toward the Future
The Lakers must balance their desire to compete in a loaded Western Conference with the reality of James’ age and injury history. With one year left on his contract before free agency, the franchise’s approach is clear: keep LeBron healthy enough to lead another playoff run.
For now, the Lakers are listening closely to their star’s camp—and taking no chances in September.