LeBron James received an excused absence from the Los Angeles Lakers’ practice on Wednesday, as confirmed by coach JJ Redick. This absence was attributed to personal reasons.
Prior to this, James missed the Lakers’ win against Portland on Sunday due to soreness in his left foot, marking his first missed game of the season. The all-time leading scorer in NBA history was also absent from the Lakers’ training facility during their initial practice after a break for the NBA Cup tournament. Redick characterized this absence as “excused.”
The Lakers are set to face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday, and Redick expressed uncertainty about whether James or fellow starter Austin Reaves would be available for that game.
“It seems both are day to day,” Redick noted. “We’ll have to wait and see how they look on Thursday and Friday.”
With James approaching his 40th birthday in less than three weeks, Redick previously mentioned that the Lakers would utilize this four-day stretch without a game to provide rest for their star player, who is currently in his remarkable 22nd NBA season.
Earlier this season, James expressed a strong desire to participate in all 82 games. However, both he and the Lakers are now taking a realistic approach to the minor injuries that can occur throughout the season.
After experiencing a shooting slump following Thanksgiving, James demonstrated resilience during the Lakers’ recent road trip. He scored 29 points on 12-of-18 shooting in a tough loss to the Miami Heat, then delivered an impressive performance with 39 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds in a comeback loss to the Atlanta Hawks last Friday.
Despite the Lakers’ current 3-7 record since their strong 10-4 start, Redick remains optimistic about their ability to address issues with offensive consistency and defensive effort. He has been in regular communication with both James and Anthony Davis about maintaining mental fortitude during challenging periods.
“Both have taken ownership of their roles,” Redick stated. “They are the leaders on the court. I had a meaningful conversation with LeBron last week about his performances in Miami and Atlanta, focusing not just on the stats but also on his leadership and gameplay. It was insightful.”
Austin Reaves has been sidelined for five consecutive games due to a bruised left pelvis. While he was limited during Wednesday’s practice, Redick indicated that Reaves is close to making a return to the court.
