Los Angeles Lakers head coach J.J. Redick announced on Thursday that LeBron James is stepping away from the team due to "personal reasons." Redick described James' absence as an "excused leave," leaving his status for Friday's game uncertain. James, who is set to turn 40 later this month, has been dealing with a foot injury and missed Wednesday's game, his first absence of the year.
Redick revealed that James has been feeling "gassed" and has requested to be taken out of a couple of games for breaks. The team acknowledges that they may be mismanaging James' minutes in his 22nd season. "For us, we have to be cognizant as we play more and more games, just the cumulative effect of playing a lot of minutes and Sunday, being banged up with the foot thing, it felt like a good opportunity for him to get some rest," Redick explained.
Earlier in the season, James expressed his desire to play in all 82 games. However, both he and the Lakers are now taking a more practical approach, considering the inevitable minor injuries that arise during any season. James' statistics have been impressive, with six triple-doubles this season, including four consecutive games. However, his 23.0 points per game are the lowest he's posted since his rookie season with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Despite his impressive rebounding and passing averages, James' three-point shooting has been a concern. After hitting three-pointers at a career-best 43.0% clip in his first 15 games, he struggled in his next seven, making only four of 34 attempts. Although he showed signs of improvement in his last game, going 6 for 11 from deep and scoring 29 points, the Lakers are still struggling to find consistency.
The team is currently on a 3-7 skid since their 10-4 start to the season. Redick remains confident in their ability to address their issues with offensive consistency and defensive intensity. He has been in frequent communication with James and Anthony Davis about the importance of staying mentally strong during challenging periods.
As James takes a temporary leave, the Lakers will focus on finding ways to overcome their current struggles. With James' injury concerns and personal reasons being addressed, the team is hopeful that he will return refreshed and ready to lead them to success.
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