Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick said Thursday that LeBron James is leaving the team for “personal reasons.”
With James' status up in the air Friday, Redick called it an “unacceptable absence.” He was already suffering from a foot injury and missed Wednesday's game, the first of the year.
He turns 40 later this month, but Father Time may be sneaking closer to becoming the NBA's all-time leading scorer.
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#23 LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles during a game against the Utah Jazz at Delta Center on December 1, 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Jamie Sabau/NBAE via Getty Images)
In fact, Reddick admitted that he felt James was “gassed” and that he felt the team mismanaged his playing time in his 22nd season. Reddick also said James has asked to miss a few games to get some rest.
“For us, we have to recognize it game after game, but it's the cumulative effects of playing so many hours and hitting his foot on Sunday. We felt it was a good opportunity for him to rest.” ” Reddick said.
James expressed a desire to play all 82 games earlier this season, but both he and the Lakers are now navigating the reality of minor injuries that are inevitable in any season.
He has six triple-doubles already this season (including four in a row at one point), but his 23.0 points per game is his lowest since his rookie season with the Cleveland Cavaliers more than 20 years ago.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, 23, gestures to his teammates during the first half of a game against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena. (John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images)
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James passes by looking like his old self through the glass. He is averaging 8.0 rebounds and 9.1 assists per game, both higher than his career totals. However, his 3-point shooting has been stagnant.
Through 15 games, he shot a career-high 43.0% from three-point range. However, over the next seven innings, he hit just 4 of 34 and missed 20 in a row. In his last game, he dropped 29 points on 6-of-11 shooting from deep, but it was only the second time in the past seven games he had scored more than 20 points.
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers makes a 3-point shot against the Toronto Raptors during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Toronto, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Frank Gunn/Canadian Press, via AP)
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The Lakers have fallen to 3-7 after starting the season 10-4, but Redick is confident in their ability to fix the issues that have plagued them recently in offensive stability and defensive strength. have. Redick also said he spoke frequently with James and Anthony Davis about the Lakers' ability to stay mentally strong during bad times.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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