The Los Angeles Lakers held their media day on Monday and took the court on Tuesday as training camp got underway ahead of the team’s first preseason game on Friday night against the Phoenix Suns, which will not feature veteran superstar LeBron James.
On Tuesday, Lakers head coach JJ Redick revealed that James will sit out Friday’s game and he’s not currently practicing. James will gradually ramp up his activity leading into the NBA’s opening night on Oct. 21, when the Lakers face the Golden State Warriors.
The goal is for him to appear in at least one preseason game before the regular season begins, according to the team.
“It’s probably a little more of a ramp-up leading into opening night for him,” Redick said. “In year 23, it’s uncharted territory. I felt, talking with performance staff, Mike, and LeBron, that he probably did too much in camp last year, which was great for me as a first-year head coach to get buy-in from him, but this year it will be a slower process. He’s obviously got 22 years of wear and tear on his body and is dealing with a bit of nerve irritation in the glute.”
However, speaking to the media on Wednesday, Redick revealed that James took the court for the first time in practice, participating in individual workouts.
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When James hits the floor this season, he will become the longest-tenured player in NBA history. He will turn 41 in December, making everything he has accomplished—and continues to do—at this age all the more remarkable.
Last season, en route to a first-round postseason exit against the Minnesota Timberwolves, James appeared in 70 games, averaging 24.4 points, 8.2 assists, and 7.8 rebounds per game. Since debuting at 18 years old with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003, he has averaged at least 20 points in every season of his career.