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JJ Redick didn’t mince words when asked by a reporter when he was a superstar LeBron James will be back with the team on Friday night.
James has been away from Los Angeles Lakers since Wednesday due to what was described as “personal reasons,” with much speculation surrounding the reasons for his absence.
When asked by a reporter before Friday night’s game at Minnesota if he knew when James would return to the team, Redick simply said, “No.”
The 39-year-old’s absence was revealed on the same day he was called up by an MMA fighter Colby Covington about his past relationships with ShawnDidi‘ Combs.
In a press conference, Covington mentioned a video of James joining Combs in an Instagram Live video four years ago.
‘Hey, everybody knows ain’t no party like a Diddy party” James told Combs in the clip, which went viral in September.
LeBron James is away from the Lakers and there is no word on when he will return
JJ Redick kept his answer short when reporters asked how long James would be out
“What does LeBron mean by that? How many Diddy parties has he actually attended?” Covington asked press conference on Wednesday.
Combs was arrested in September in Manhattan after an investigation into alleged sex trafficking and is charged with drugging and raping victims as young as nine.
Combs, who faces more than 100 sexual assault charges, is known to have thrown the extravagant “freaks.”
These parties are said to turn into large orgies that sometimes last for days.
Combs continues to insist that he was wrongfully accused and maintains that, while dirty, all parties were consensual.
There is nothing to suggest that LeBron’s absence from the Lakers is related to Combs’ allegations.
Breaking the news on Wednesday, Lakers coach Redick told reporters, “LeBron is not with the team right now. He is out for personal reasons, excused absence.
An old clip of James talking to Diddy (right) on Instagram Live has resurfaced in recent weeks
The NBA legend, pictured with wife Savannah, will celebrate his 40th birthday this month
He added that the veteran is “taking some time” and there is no time frame for when James will return to the team.
James was on the Lakers’ injury report last week with leg soreness, and on Friday he was declared out with a left leg injury.
Sunday against Portland was the first game James has missed this season, and he made it two with his absence from the trip to Minnesota.
He does not appear to have traveled with the team and was not on the bench for the game.
On Sunday night, the Lakers return to LA to face the Memphis Grizzlies.
James’ absence also comes after he was shrouded in trade rumors this week.
The Golden State Warriors are rumored to be eyeing the veteran as they look for a second star to join Steph Curry, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported this week.
“The Warriors have dreamed of pairing LeBron with Steph Curry and Draymond Green since last year,” he said on the network’s “Get Up.”
MMA fighter Colby Covington appeared to call James out on his past relationships with Shawn Combs
James and his son Bronny became the first father-son duo to play in the NBA
“They did an inquiry and closed it down last February. That was before LeBron played with Steve Kerr and Steph Curry and won the gold medal in the summer.
“So they’re definitely going to be watching the situation and I don’t think they’re doing anything without knowing that door is locked, but I’d say with LeBron, it’s all up to him. He has a no-trade clause and has given no indication that he wants the Lakers to do anything other than improve the roster they have, not that he wants to go anywhere.
James fulfilled his dream of playing alongside son Bronny in the NBA this season when the 20-year-old was selected by the Lakers in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft.
They became the first ever father-son duo to face each other in an NBA game during the Lakers’ season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Oct. 22.
