Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick said Thursday that LeBron James is not with the team for “personal reasons.”

Redick called it an “excused absence” because James’ status for Friday is uncertain — he was already dealing with a foot injury and missed Wednesday’s game, his first of the year.

As he turns 40 later this month, it looks like Father Time may be hot on the heels of the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.

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LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball during the game against the Utah Jazz on December 1, 2024 at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Jamie Sabau/NBAE via Getty Images)

In fact, Redick admitted that James felt “gassed” and that the team felt like they were mismanaging his minutes in his 22nd season. Redick also said that James asked to be taken out of some games for some rest.

“For us, we have to be clear as we play more and more games, just the cumulative effect that playing a lot of minutes brings, and on Sunday it felt like it was a good opportunity for him to get some rest, because he hit his foot,” said Redick.

James had expressed a desire to play in all 82 games earlier this season, but both he and the Lakers are now dealing with the inevitable minor injuries that occur every season.

While he has already posted six triple-doubles this season – including four in a row – his 23.0 points per game are the lowest he has scored since his rookie season with the Cleveland Cavaliers over 20 years ago.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) gestures to a teammate during the first half against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena. (John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images)

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James looks like his old self on the glass and in passing; Over the course of his career, he averages 8.0 rebounds and 9.1 assists per game. However, his three-point shooting has declined.

In 15 games, he scored three points with a career-best shooting percentage of 43.0%. However, he hit just four of 34 on his next seven hits and had missed 20 straight. Although he went 6-for-11 from deep and dropped 29 points in his last game, that was only the second time he topped 20 points in his last seven games.

LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates a three-pointer against the Toronto Raptors during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Toronto on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

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The Lakers are 3-7 since their 10-4 start to the season, but Redick remains confident they can overcome the issues that have plagued them of late in terms of offensive consistency and defensive intensity. Redick also said he has spoken frequently with James and Anthony Davis about the Lakers’ ability to remain mentally strong even during tough times.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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