Following reports indicating that LeBron James will not be retiring after previously alluding to it with a social media announcement which turned out to be a business venture, the Lakers’ prominent player might be out of commission for a bit longer. James, who is currently experiencing nerve discomfort in his gluteal muscles, will “likely” be absent for the entirety of the preseason, according to Shams Charania of ESPN.
James has been absent from the court since the beginning of the preseason due to this issue, though he has been progressively increasing his training load, as reported by Charania. Nevertheless, the primary goal is for the four-time champion to be fully prepared for the regular season’s inaugural game. The Lakers have four more preseason contests scheduled before their season opener against the Warriors on October 21.
This situation is less than ideal for both James and the Lakers, but it reflects the reality when dealing with a 40-year-old player who continues to be a crucial part of the team’s foundation. James has been emphasizing his health during the later stages of his career. Leading up to the preseason, coach JJ Redick mentioned that the Lakers would exercise greater caution with James as they approached the season.
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Despite commencing his 23rd year, James continues to perform at a high level, which is unprecedented given the extensive usage his body has endured. However, he has also faced injuries over the past 5-6 years, dealing with multiple foot, ankle, and calf problems that have kept him out of games for significant durations.
Adopting a cautious approach is the most sensible solution, although refraining from playing until opening night means he will have to regain his rhythm without the benefit of preseason practice. If any player is likely to remain unaffected by missing the preseason, it is certainly James. Nevertheless, at his age, it might take some time to shake off the rust.
This situation appears dynamic, implying there’s still a possibility that he could participate in a few minutes during L.A.’s final preseason matchup on October 17. However, if James’ injury requires him to miss regular season games as well, it would represent a concerning development for the Lakers.
