After having his sprained left ankle reevaluated by the Lakers‘ medical staff, star forward LeBron James has been ruled out for the rest of the 2021/22 season, the team announced today (via Twitter). The Lakers will be without James when they host the Thunder on Friday and visit Denver on Sunday.
Los Angeles was eliminated from play-in contention earlier this week and doesn’t control its first-round pick, so the results of the team’s final two games aren’t particularly consequential to the franchise. Still, James’ absence is notable since it means he’ll finish the season with only 56 games played, making him ineligible to qualify for the 2021/22 scoring title — players must appears in at least 58 of 82 regular season contests to qualify.
James’ average of 30.3 points per game this season represents the second-highest of his 19-year career and would put him neck and neck with the current leader, Joel Embiid (30.4 PPG).
While he won’t get the opportunity to vie for the second scoring title of his career, LeBron will finish the season with a remarkable stat line for a player in his age-37 season. In addition to his 30.3 PPG, he has also put up 8.2 RPG, 6.2 APG, 1.3 SPG, and 1.1 BPG on .524/.359/.756 shooting in his 56 appearances (37.2 MPG).
Anthony Davis (right foot soreness) and Russell Westbrook (right shoulder soreness) also missed Thursday’s game in Golden State, but the Lakers have yet to make any announcements about their availability for the final two games of the season.
Embiid gets consolation prize for finishing 3rd in MVP.
Wow….figured he’d play tonite vs tanking thunder. He would scored 75 easily and wrapped up scoring title…..
LeOverIt
Really, though, what difference would the scoring title have made for LeBron? Averaging the most points in the league for it’s most disappointing team? That would have been a quite dubious distinction. And- he wouldn’t get paid extra for winning the scoring title, not that he needs the money anyway. So… so what. He’d rather have gotten into the playoffs.
The Lakers drama continues. There will be a lot of storylines and takes about the Lakers the rest of this year. The NBA loves it. It’s good for business.
The scoring title would mean the world to Mr. Ego. That’s all athletes care about now is stats. Think back to my (sorry about this) era. You think Nate Thurmond or John Havlicek or Willis Reed could have told you how many rebounds or points they had in a game or on the season? Those guys were pros. And all class.
You have no idea. Players keep track whether they admit it or not, bc some fans don’t or can’t, and think that’s an asset or “class”. Even if a player doesn’t keep track, some AC will remind them. Most players have some idea of opponent’s numbers as well.
You guys love it
The NBA is doing just fine w/out the Lakers
Thank God now can we stop talking about Mr. Worst GM ever
Team LeBron is undefeated though! Lol
Oh no! How will they survive without him in the playoffs?!?!?! Oh wait.
LeBron’s days as GM are not done. Sitting him out last 2 games so he can get started on his GM work early. Got to fire Frank Vogel. Got to hire a new head coach (Doc Rivers???). Got to tell Rob Pelinka that he ain’t working hard enough. Got to figure out how to trade Talen Horton Tucker and his $30 million contract. Got to figure out how to trade Kendrick Nunn. Most importantly …. Got To Figure Out How To Get A 2023 2nd Round Pick In One Of Those Trades to draft Bronny with!!
Geez mon, LBJ lives rent free in your head & we all laugh at you, you the joke, dude!
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