LeBron James will sit out the Los Angeles Lakers’ preseason finale on Friday at Golden State, giving the 19-time All-Star every week’s relaxation between video games heading into the regular-season opener Tuesday towards the Minnesota Timberwolves.
James, who turns 40 on Dec. 30, was held out of the Lakers’ exhibition recreation Thursday towards the Phoenix Suns. The four-time MVP is ready to enter his twenty second NBA season, tying Vince Carter for essentially the most in league historical past.
LeBron James, out tonight for relaxation, won’t play tomorrow in GSW both, a supply aware of James’ plans confirmed to ESPN. @JaredSGreenberg reported earlier tonight on TNT broadcast. This can give James a full week’s relaxation between his remaining preseason recreation and opener vs MIN
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) October 18, 2024
“DNP-old,” Lakers coach JJ Redick joked about James’ purpose for sitting out throughout his pregame interview Thursday. “Taking it out of [Gregg Popovich’s] ebook.”
Redick was referring to the San Antonio Spurs coach itemizing a then-36-year-old Tim Duncan as out for being “outdated” when his staff was enjoying three video games in 4 nights in the course of the 2013-14 season.
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James averaged 12 factors, 4.3 rebounds, and three.7 assists in three preseason video games
The Lakers went 1-2 in preseason video games with James. The six-time All-Defensive member completed the preseason with averages of 12 factors on 46.9% capturing from the ground, 57.1% from 3-point vary, 4.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 18.5 minutes over three contests.
In keeping with ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, Redick had initially hoped to make use of Thursday as an prolonged costume rehearsal and permit for gamers to relaxation Friday in San Francisco on the second evening of a back-to-back. Nonetheless, these plans are actually modified since James and Rui Hachimura (calf tightness) sat out towards the Suns.
LeBron James got here in at No. 7 in ESPN’s annual high 100 gamers listing.https://t.co/QQKjtQAztj
— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) October 17, 2024
“I feel you need to take a look at the entire elements and also you don’t usually get to reside in an idealized world on this league, and that’s OK,” Redick stated. “You don’t get to reside out issues precisely the best way you need on this league fairly often, and that’s tremendous.
“We did have a costume rehearsal — game-day shootaround, movie session, all of that — right this moment. And we’ll do the identical for our pregame. It’s simply the primary time we’ve achieved that every one preseason. “So, we’ve nonetheless gotten to do some stuff we’ve needed to do.”
James is 1,364 factors shy of reaching 50,000 profession factors
Final season, LeBron James turned the primary participant in NBA historical past to common not less than 25 factors, seven rebounds, and eight assists on the age of 39. No different participant has ever posted these numbers after their tenth season.
Within the Lakers’ 116-104 win over the Brooklyn Nets on March 31, James additionally joined Jordan as the one NBA gamers with a number of video games of 40 factors or extra after turning 39.
James has achieved so twice now at his age. Jordan, who performed till he was 40, did it 3 times. Moreover, the Lakers star matched his season excessive with 40 factors and tied his profession excessive with 9 3-pointers.
Moreover, James is 1,364 factors shy of reaching 50,000 profession factors. His profession complete contains each the common season and the playoffs throughout his 22-year profession.
By 1,492 profession NBA regular-season video games (1,490 begins), James has amassed 40,474 factors. In 54 postseason video games, he has additionally totaled 8,162 factors, bringing his profession complete to 48,636 complete factors.
