Amid an extended break for teams that didn’t advance in the NBA Cup, LeBron James “is taking some time” from Lakers practice, head coach JJ Redick said.
Redick told reporters Wednesday that James missed Wednesday’s practice for “personal reasons” and that his absence was excused. Further details of why James missed practice are unclear.
The Lakers, like the rest of the NBA that didn’t advance to the quarterfinals of the NBA Cup, have a few days off this week. They last played Sunday, a 107-98 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. They’ll next play Friday against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
James missed Sunday’s game against Portland with left foot soreness. The absence was his first in 24 Lakers games this season. His status for Friday’s game against Minnesota is unclear.
Redick said before Sunday’s Trail Blazers game that time off for James this week “could be really good for him.” After the game, he encouraged all Lakers players to make the most of the extended early season break.
“Heck, if somebody wants to go spend a couple of nights in Santa Barbara and relax, that’s fine too,” Redick said, per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “It’s a quarter way through the season.”
Failing to make the NBA Cup elimination round certainly has its upside.
James will turn 40 on Dec. 30. He’s averaged 23 points, 9.1 assists and eight rebounds per game this season and remains one of the league’s most dominant forces. He’s also showed signs of wear, including a 10-point effort in a loss to the Timberwolves on Dec. 2 that threatened to snap a streak of 1,242 consecutive games scoring in double figures.
The Lakers (13-11) also stumbled into the NBA Cup break with seven losses in 10 games, including a 134-93 defeat to the Heat on Dec. 4. If there are opportunities for James to take a step back within the confines of NBA rules, it makes sense for him and the Lakers to take advantage.
“In game, he’s asked for a sub a couple times because he’s gassed,” Redick said, per McMenamin. “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.”
Whether James is back for Friday’s game and beyond remains to be seen. His status — and the Lakers’ reasoning if he does miss more time — will be worth watching.
