Amid an extended break for teams that haven’t advanced 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 about why James missed practice are unclear.
The Lakers, like the rest of the NBA that did not advance to the NBA Cup quarterfinals, have a few days off this week. They last played on Sunday, a 107-98 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. They play the Minnesota Timberwolves next Friday.
James missed Sunday’s game against Portland with soreness in his left foot. 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 someone wants to spend a few nights in Santa Barbara to relax, that’s fine too,” Redick said, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “It’s a quarter of the way through the season.”
Not making it to the elimination round of the NBA Cup certainly has its advantages.
James turns 40 on December 30. He is averaging 23 points, 9.1 assists and eight rebounds per game this season and remains one of the most dominant players in the league. He also showed signs of wear and tear, including a 10-point effort in a loss to the Timberwolves on December 2 that threatened to snap a streak of 1,242 consecutive games in double figures.
The Lakers (13-11) also entered the NBA Cup break with seven losses in 10 games, including a 134-93 loss 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 the game he gets asked for a sub a few times because he’s getting gassed,” Redick said, according to McMenamin. “For us, we have to be aware that we are playing more and more games. Just the cumulative effect of playing a lot of minutes and the fact that we were hit with the foot on Sunday felt like a good opportunity for him to get some rest to get. .”
Whether James is back for Friday’s game and beyond remains to be seen. His status – and the Lakers’ reasoning if he misses more time – will be worth watching.
