LOS ANGELES - LeBron James has been out of the Los Angeles Lakers lineup for three consecutive games due to a groin injury heading into Tuesday's matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves. James has been dealing with some ailments, but Lakers head coach JJ Redick isn't really surprised that the Lakers star needs some time off this week.
Before the Lakers' game against the Timberwolves, JJ Redick reported that the team was always looking to give LeBron James some rest this stretch. That plan got a little intense after he collapsed on the court during the Lakers' loss to the Denver Nuggets last Thursday.
Redick said during his postgame press conference, "We obviously want him in the lineup. As we're approaching this stretch, and you look at six days in eight nights and two back-to-backs last week, you never know how his body will react to a game and how his foot will react." “So that doesn't mean I expected him to miss a game, it wouldn't surprise me if he needed a day or two to let his body heal.
"The truth is that he collapsed in Denver, he's just trying to move on. He wants to be there, and so do we, and hopefully he'll be back soon."
Redick reiterated that James is currently day-to-day, but that could mean anywhere between two days and five or six days. James has battled foot injuries all season, but was recently listed on the Lakers' injury report with both elbow and hip soreness. Elbow and hip problems were caused by a fall against the Nuggets.
James drove to the basket and was hit by Nuggets big man Nikola Jokic. No foul was called and he was briefly out of the game before returning.
James is in the midst of a historic 23rd season in the NBA. He was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft. James has appeared in 44 games this season, and his streak of consecutive All-NBA teams will end at 21 seasons.
James was selected to his 22nd All-Star appearance this year, while he averaged 21.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 1.1 steals, including 50.4 percent shooting from the field, 31.3 percent shooting from the 3-point line, and 74.5 percent shooting from the free-throw line.
