JJ Redick says he doesn’t know when LeBron James will return to the Lakers

JJ Redick says he doesn’t know when LeBron James will return to the Lakers

LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 8, 2024: Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) sits on the street.

Lakers star LeBron James sits on the bench next to his son Bronny in street clothes during a game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Dec. 8. James did not accompany the Lakers on their trip to Minnesota on Friday. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

LeBron James stayed away from the Lakers in Minnesota on Friday, the 39-year-old was sidelined due to a left foot injury.

According to the Lakers and coach JJ Redick, James was not with the Lakers for “personal reasons.”

When asked if he knew when James would return to the Lakers, Redick replied, “No.”

James appeared on the Lakers’ injury report last week because of foot soreness following the team’s loss at Miami. He played in the next game at Atlanta but missed his first game of the season on Sunday against Portland.

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With the Lakers failing to advance in the NBA Cup, the team played just three games in 13 days – a rare midseason break for James, in his 22nd season, to recover mentally and physically.

The Lakers play again in Los Angeles against Memphis on Sunday and then are off until Thursday when they face the Kings in Sacramento.

James’ son Bronny is also not with the Lakers, as he plays for the organization’s G League team. In his first away game of the season on Thursday in Phoenix, he scored a season-high 30 points.

“I think for him as a young player, any opportunity he gets is great for his development,” Redick said. “I also think it’s easy to develop a more aggressive mindset. He has a real desire and a natural instinct to just always play the right way. And I think developing that aggressiveness on both ends of the floor is really good for him and he needs to take advantage of those opportunities when he’s at South Bay.”

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This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.

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