Superstar forward LeBron James has been ruled out for Monday’s game at Utah due to left foot soreness, the Lakers announced (Twitter link via Marc Stein).
In addition to James, starting guards Patrick Beverley and Lonnie Walker have been ruled out Monday, as both are dealing with non-COVID illnesses. Big man Anthony Davis (lower back) is listed as probable on the second of a back-to-back after Sunday’s loss to Cleveland, so at least that’s a positive development.
While this is James’ first missed game of the 2022/23 season, he has been dealing with the foot soreness for a few weeks and said a stomach virus was affecting him all of last week.
“I lost my rhythm when I kinda got this bug,” he said. “Not only the threes, but a couple of layups have been short around the rim. Just feel like my rhythm has been off. Haven’t had an opportunity to get on the practice floor because I’ve been kinda told – not just told to stay away but advised to stay away to save my energy for the games.”
In his 20th NBA season, James is averaging 24.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, 7.1 assists and 1.0 steal through nine games (36.1 minutes per night). However, his shooting line of .447/.210/.682 (.506 true shooting percentage) is well short of his career slash line (.504/.345/.734, .587 TS%), so clearly he hasn’t been himself early on.
After dropping Sunday’s game to the Cavs, the Lakers currently sit with a 2-7 record and are facing the surprising 8-3 Jazz. Utah just beat the Lakers in Los Angeles on Friday, so it will be a tall order for the Lakers to even the season series with three starters — including their best player — out tonight.
Utah is on a roll right now. Wouldn’t be surprised if this is a 40-piece. Yikes.
Aka load management?
Skip Bayless will never shut up now. Great. Little boy’s gonna need to find someone else to hate on in a couple years.
Oh wait, it’s not all Westbrook’s fault?
Who knew?
The foot pain and stomach illness are clearly Westbrook’s fault dude. Get with it.
True. He’s a real bad egg.
Even though Westbrook has a better true shooting percentage AND a much better three-point percentage than Bron.
Russell Westbrook strikes again. When will the Lakers finally trade this guy. Guaranteed he hid the icy hot from LBJ or something.
Lebron can put up stats but at this point in his career he needs to be on a good team to win, he’s essentially stuffing the stat box in a non meaningful way.
Three point percentage this year.
Westbrook 32.4
Brown 32.1
Walker 29.8
Davis 23.1
Nunn 23.1
Beverly 22.7
James 21.0
None of the Lakers are superstars.
LeBron + Davis + Westbrook = 1 superstar
2 wins?
Small sample size humor