LeBron James was the star in Las Vegas at this time last year, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to win the first-ever NBA Cup. Things are different now.
Lakers coach JJ Redick explained this week that James is missing from practice due to “personal reasons” and “left foot soreness,” which is why he won’t play in the game against Minnesota on Friday. Recently, there’s been talk about possible trades involving James, with teams like Golden State potentially interested if he became available. James is also turning 40 in about two weeks.
Whenever James isn’t playing, it makes headlines. Taking time off for personal reasons raises questions. It could mean he’s hurt, frustrated with the Lakers’ recent struggles, or simply needing a break. But for now, it’s clear he won’t be playing on Friday.
“All of this is very fluid,” Redick said when asked about James’ absence. “All of it is. All of it is. That’s what’s crystallized.”
James holds the power with his no-trade clause. If he wants to be traded, it’s likely he’ll be. If not, he’ll stay with the Lakers, alongside his son Bronny.
The Lakers only have two games next week, so it’s a good time for James to rest if his foot is bothering him or if the toll of 22 seasons is catching up with him. In short, nobody knows what’s going on except LeBron.
He’s the oldest player in the league, has broken nearly every record, and has more money than he could ever spend. There’s nothing left to prove. He is under contract for next season, but whether he plays after this season is uncertain.
“I’m not going to play that much longer, to be completely honest. I don’t know how many years that is, if it’s one year, two years, whatever the case may be,” James said last month. “I’m not playing ‘til the wheels fall off. I’m not going to be that guy. I’m not going to be the guy who’s disrespecting the game because I just want to be out on the floor. That won’t be me.”
Despite his lower scoring average (23 points per game, his lowest since his rookie season), his rebounding and assist numbers are up. The only other player averaging 23 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists per game this season is Denver’s Nikola Jokic, a strong MVP contender. So, his performance is still solid.
It’s also worth noting that the NBA trade season is heating up. Starting Sunday, 85 players are eligible to be traded, and there’s a lot of buzz around big names, including Jimmy Butler’s future in Miami.
“Narratives,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Thursday. “That’s going to happen, you know, in every organization at some point during the season.”
This might be one of those moments for the Lakers. As of Friday, they’ve lost seven of their last 10 games, with four of those losses being by at least 25 points. James has seemed frustrated, but that’s understandable after tough losses.
Even though James isn’t playing, his presence is still felt in Las Vegas. There’s a large advertisement with his image near the baggage claim at the airport, promoting a liquor company. But on the court, he won’t be seen, and it’s unclear when he will be next.
