Redick: LeBron ‘taking a while,’ Fri. standing TBD

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — The Los Angeles Lakers congregated as a staff Wednesday for the primary time since Sunday’s win over the Portland Trail Blazers, solely an necessary determine was lacking from the group: LeBron James.

“LeBron will not be with the staff proper now,” Lakers coach JJ Redick stated after follow. “He is out for private causes, excused absence.”

James sat out the Blazers game due to soreness in his left foot. It was the primary sport James, 39, missed all season.

With the schedule offering a break — L.A. performs simply two video games in a 10-day stretch from Dec. 9-18 — Redick gave your entire staff Monday off and designated Tuesday as an non-compulsory “get what you want” day.

Redick met with most of the Lakers’ gamers individually Tuesday, however James was not current, the coach stated.

The coach was requested in regards to the upcoming break on Sunday and made it clear he would give his gamers the liberty to make use of the time as they deemed match.

“Heck, if someone needs to go spend a few nights in Santa Barbara and loosen up, that is high-quality too,” Redick stated after the Blazers sport. “It is a quarter method by way of the season.”

Redick added that James is at the moment “taking a while” and he was unclear whether or not the 22-year veteran can be again with the staff for his or her subsequent sport, Friday on the street towards the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Lakers backup heart Christian Koloko stated James’ presence was missed, however he was not fearful about him falling behind on the staff’s schemes due to his absence.

“I imply, we all know he already is aware of every thing,” Koloko stated. “He’ll come again and he is nonetheless going to be the identical. He’ll give every thing on the court docket.

“We simply acquired to do our half and simply get higher in order that when he comes again, he can simply have a look at us and be like, ‘Oh, yeah, [they] had been really working,’ when he wasn’t there. However we all know he’ll come again and simply choose up every thing. He is been within the NBA for a very long time.”

On the season, James is averaging 23 factors on 49.5% capturing (35.9% from 3), 9.1 assists and eight.0 rebounds. Redick stated he’s in fixed communication with each James and his longtime athletic coach, Mike Mancias, about managing the four-time MVP’s workload as he nears his fortieth birthday on the finish of the month.

“In sport, he is requested for a sub a pair occasions as a result of he is gassed,” Redick stated. “For us, we’ve got to be cognizant as we play increasingly more video games, simply the cumulative impact of enjoying loads of minutes and Sunday, being banged up with the foot factor, it felt like a superb alternative for him to get some relaxation.”

Redick added that Lakers beginning capturing guard Austin Reaves, who missed the previous 5 video games with a left pelvic damage, returned to follow Wednesday and was in a position to be part of his teammates for many of the drills.

“I would not name Austin a full participant,” Redick stated. “There was one factor that he sat out that we recommended … that was in all probability not good for him, simply as a result of nature of the drill. It was significantly a bodily drill and simply need to be aware of his ache tolerance. However he was full participant of all of the 5-on-5, stay stuff and all of the breakdown drills.”

Reaves is taken into account day-to-day heading into the Minnesota sport, based on Redick.