LeBron James has been dealing with lingering foot soreness and a non-COVID illness for over a week now. Despite the ailments, the 37-year-old has not missed a game for the 2-6 Los Angeles Lakers, though he hasn't quite looked like himself on the court.
James is averaging 24.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 7.1 assists in 36.1 (!) minutes per game. But, he's shooting just 21 percent from three-point range and an uncharacteristically inefficient 44.7 percent from the field. He's struggled to finish around the rim more than usual.
After Friday's loss to the Utah Jazz, LeBron insisted that his foot soreness would not keep him out of action, and was simply something he had to play through (like Anthony Davis' back pain). However, he did speak openly throughout last week about the debilitating effects of the flu-like stomach bug, which kept him bedridden for multiple days.
“Today was the first day I got out of bed since Sunday night. It hurt me to my soul to miss out on the Halloween party with all my guys on Monday…Tom Brady's been on the injury report for like 20 straight years. Somehow he just plays.”
🗣️ LeBron James
(via @michaelcorvoNBA) pic.twitter.com/nM47ER2c5o
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) November 3, 2022
In Sunday's loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron — who had 27 points on 13-of-23 shooting — seemed to have more of a pep in his step, indicating that he was at least over the virus. However…
Is LeBron James playing vs. Jazz?
On Monday morning, the Lakers announced that LeBron will not play against the Jazz in the second leg of the home-road back-to-back, citing left foot soreness.
Fellow starters Patrick Beverley — who missed Sunday's game — and Lonnie Walker IV will also be held out due to a non-COVID illness. On Sunday, Lakers head coach Darvin Ham said Beverley would not make the trip to Utah. (Wenyen Gabriel got sick, too, though didn't miss any action.)
https://twitter.com/michaelcorvoNBA/status/1589693655904038913
Certainly, it's possible that the back-to-back aspect contributed to the Lakers' decision to give LeBron an extra day off. Either way, Los Angeles will be severely short-handed for their rematch with the 8-3 Jazz.
Utah easily handled Los Angeles at Crypto.com Arena in their first meeting, 130-116.
The Lakers will face the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.
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