Out of nowhere, the Los Angeles Lakers announced that LeBron James will miss Tuesday night's visit to Golden 1 Center to face the Sacramento Kings and has entered the NBA's health and safety protocols.

LeBron had not been listed on the injury report the Lakers released on Tuesday morning.

At the moment, it's unclear what prompted James to enter protocols, and if he tested positive for COVID-19 or came into close contact with somebody who did. According to various reports, though, LeBron will be miss at least 10 days or until he posts two negative COVID tests in a 24-hour span — all but indicating that he tested positive. He's expected to miss several games, per ESPN.

UPDATE: According to Michael J. Babcock of TMZ, LeBron took three COVID-19 tests and two came back positive. He is asymptomatic.

“Found out this morning that he was gonna be entering the health and safety protocols,” Frank Vogel said before the Kings game. “We arranged for him to get transportation back to LA safely. That’s pretty much all I can say about him.”

After the Kings game, the Lakers host the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday, the Boston Celtics next Tuesday, then visit the Memphis Grizzlies on Dec. 9. In 10 days, the Lakers travel to play the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The news broke shortly after ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the NBA currently has a 97 percent vaccination rate against COVID-19. Multiple high-profile NBA players, such as Joel Embiid, Kevin Durant, Kevin Love, Nikola Vucevic, Tobias Harris, and Jimmy Butler have missed games due to league protocols.

At Media Day, LeBron said he is vaccinated against the coronavirus after being initially skeptical. Before the 2020-21 playoffs, James came under fire for attending a party maskless alongside Drake and Michael B. Jordan despite not yet being vaccinated  — which the NBA said was a breach of protocol, though it did not suspend James.

“We’re talking about individual bodies,” James said at Media Day. “We’re not talking about something political, or racism or police brutality. We’re talking about people’s bodies and well-being. I don’t think I personally should get involved in what other people should do for their bodies and livelihoods. … I know what I did for me and my family. I know what some of my friends did for their families. But as far as speaking for everybody and their individualities, and things they want to do, that’s not my job.”

Prior to training camp, the Lakers said they would be 100 percent vaxxed by opening day. Per Los Angeles requirements, players who are unvaccinated could not enter Staples Center.

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LeBron will mark the first Lakers player to enter protocols this season, and it's his first time doing so. In 2020-21, the team dealt with multiple untimely stints in protocols, including Dennis Schröder (twice) and Marc Gasol (who had a scary bout with COVID-19).

James' absence will be the latest plot twist in an unceasingly dramatic Lakers season. Los Angeles (11-11) is still working to develop chemistry as a club, but the inconsistent availability of LeBron (and other supporting pieces) has made that practically impossible.

LeBron missed two games early on with ankle soreness, eight more with a still-present abdominal strain, and, for the first time in his NBA career, missed a game due to suspension last week.

The 19-year veteran is averaging 25.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 5.2 rebounds in 11 games this season. The Lakers are 4-7 without him.