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LeBron James takes time from Los Angeles Lakers amid on-court struggles and swirling trade rumors this season.
The NBA legend missed his first game of the season when the Lakers faced Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday, suffering from sore feet.
But concerns grew Wednesday when the 39-year-old was also not spotted at practice, with head coach JJ Reddick later confirming the extended absence.
“LeBron is not with the team right now,” Reddick said after practice. “He’s out for personal reasons, excused absence.”
He added that the veteran is “taking some time” and there is no time frame for when James will return to the team.
It was later confirmed that James has been ruled out for the Lakers’ game against Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday.
LeBron James is taking time out from the Los Angeles Lakers amid trade rumors
James is averaging 23 points, 9.1 assists and 8.0 rebounds so far this season – his 22nd in the NBA.
Redick also said he is in constant communication with both James and his longtime athletic trainer, Mike Mancias, about managing the four-time MVP’s workload as he approaches his 40th birthday, which he will celebrate at the end of the month .
“In the game, he called for a sub a couple of times because he was gassed,” Reddick said. “For us, we have to be aware as we play more and more games, it’s just the cumulative effect of playing a lot of minutes and Sunday when he was kicked, it seemed like a good opportunity for him to rest.’
James expressed a desire earlier this season to play all 82 games, but both he and the Lakers are now being practical with the inevitable minor injuries that occur every season.
The mysterious absence comes after James has been 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.”
“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.
The NBA legend, pictured with wife Savannah, will celebrate his 40th birthday this month
Lakers head coach JJ Reddick (right) told reporters that James is “taking some time.”
James and his son Bronny became the first father-son duo to play in the NBA
“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.
However, James Jr. was assigned to the Lakers’ G-League affiliate earlier last month and is expected to move between LA and the South Bay this season.
James Sr. was given a full no-trade clause by the Lakers in the two-year, $101.4 million contract he signed in the offseason and has looked set to bring the curtain down on his career in Los Angeles since he originally joined the team in the summer of 2018. .
