Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James will not play on Friday against the Minnesota Timberwolves. depending on the teamand did not accompany the team on its flight to Minneapolis, ESPN reported. After James was absent from the team’s practice on Wednesday, coach JJ Redick told reporters that James was away for “personal reasons” and that it was an “excused absence.”
James, who turns 40 at the end of the month, sat out the Lakers’ most recent contest (a win over the Portland Trail Blazers that snapped a three-game losing streak) because of soreness in his left foot. That was the first game he missed all season.
In October, James expressed his desire to play all 82 games.. He can no longer accomplish that feat, which Redick recently acknowledged wasn’t a great idea to begin with. “I don’t know if that’s what’s best for him and for us,” Redick said. said earlier this month. He offered some additional insights into James’ workload when speaking to the media on Wednesday.
“In the game, he was asked for a substitute a couple of times because he was exhausted,” Redick said. “For us, we have to be aware as we play more and more games, just the cumulative effect of playing a lot of minutes and on Sunday, getting a knock on the foot, it seemed like a good opportunity for him to get some rest.” “.
Because the Lakers did not advance to the knockout phase of the NBA Cup, they had a break in the schedule that included four nights off between Sunday’s game against the Trail Blazers and Friday’s game against the Timberwolves. For James, who didn’t play against the Blazers, that would represent a full week between games (and counting).
The Lakers return home Sunday against the Grizzles.
Regardless of when James returns to the court, it’s clear the Lakers are thinking long-term. Only four players (John Stockton, Robert Parish, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Vince Carter) have played more than 75 games at age 40 or older, and none of them had the responsibility that James has.
How will they help him get through the season while maintaining his effectiveness?
James is playing 35 minutes per game this season, which is in line with where he has been the last two seasons, and has 23 points, eight rebounds and 9.1 assists. While his counting stats are impressive and he is still able to put up his numbers on certain nights, he hasn’t been his usual self every game.
His 4.6 free throw attempts per game are the lowest of his career and the first time he has been below five in that category, his 17.2% turnover rate is also the worst of his career, and the field goal percentage he makes at the rim (28.6%) is the second lowest in his history. Starting in late November, he missed 20 consecutive 3-pointers over a five-game span, and during a blowout loss to the Timberwolves earlier this month he scored just 10 points on 4-of-16 shooting from the field. That was the first time since his initial stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers that he scored 10 or fewer points on 25% or less shooting from the field.
Perhaps most notable is that, for the first time since he joined the Lakers in 2018, they have been better with him off the court (minus-8.4 net rating with James on, plus-4.1 net rating when he sits) .
James remains one of the smartest and most talented players in the league, but it seems clear at this point that some type of load management plan would be best for him and the team. Whether that means taking more games off or playing fewer minutes is up for debate.
The biggest hurdle may be getting James to agree to that strategy.
“I know you got me about the old man’s fucking time percentages and shit.” James was seen telling Lakers assistant coaches Early last season when they tried to institute a minutes restriction. “Play eight minutes and shit. Two drinks in eight minutes, just doing cardio. I hate this shit already, it’s trash.”
It’s hard to imagine that his way of thinking has changed. He might have to, though, if he wants to have enough in the tank to help the Lakers try to make some noise in the playoffs this spring.
