LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers, injury update, Lakers future
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LeBron James will become a free agent once his contract ends with the Los Angeles Lakers after this season, but he remains out with sciatica.
The last timeLeBron James was a free agent is tough to forget, and theNBA’s all-time leading scorer is set for the same fate next summer, as he is now in the last year of his contract with theLos Angeles Lakers.
For the past few months, James has left the entire NBA world on the edge of their seats, wondering whathe’ll do next.Since picking up his player option over the offseason and RichPaul’s subsequent comments toinsider Shams Charania, people have predicted Jamesto stay in Los Angeles, move to a new team like the Warriors, Mavericks, and even Cavaliers, orend his career and retire.
While nobody knows whatJames’ next move will be, Charania recently offered a seldom update on his plans. Speaking on theFlagrantpodcast, the insider said James is a player to keep an eye on over the next few months because even hedoesn’t have his mind set on what the future holds.
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“We still don’t know where LeBron is gonna be… I still think it’s very much up in the air… I don’t think he knows exactly how the end is going to play out.
“Could it be with the Lakers? Sure, but he’s a free agent.”
– Shams Carania on LeBron James. 🍿
“We stilldon’t know where LeBron is gonna be. Is he going to finish his career with the Lakers, or is he going to be somewhere else? I still thinkit’s very much up in the air…I’m not sure he knows exactly how the end is going to play out,”Charania said. “Could it stay with the Lakers? Sure, buthe’s a free agent.”
James has yet to play in a game for the Lakers this season, as he is dealing with sciatica, which Charania reported he has been suffering from since the summer. Stilldoesn’t have a direct timeline for a return in what could be his last season in Los Angeles.
Shams On The LeBronJames Lakers Future
As he is with most of the leading storylines around the NBA, Charania has been one of the first to provide updates onJames’ future.While according to him, even the superstar himself might not have a solid plan in place yet, the door has been left wide open for a departure when the season ends.
“Ifhe’s going to continue to play,there’s clearly a chancehe’s somewhere else,”Charania added. “But again, he could stay with the Lakers.”
Jamesisn’t a newcomer to the theatrics, and as seen in his recent ‘The SecondDecision’ video, he understands the weight and attention created by his uncertain status after this season. However, despite numerous mock trades and rumors in the past, the speculation onJames’ future with the Lakers is relatively new.
A majority ofthe recent headlinesaround his next move couldlikely be tied toPaul’s comments to Charania when James picked up his player option. In that article announcing the news,James’ agent pointed to the relationship between the franchise and the star being close to over.
“LeBron wants to compete for a championship. He knows the Lakers are building for the future,”Paul told ESPN. “We do want to evaluatewhat’s best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career. He wants to make every season he has left count, and the Lakers understand that, are supportive, and wantwhat’s best for him.”
In subsequent reporting, Charania hasgone on tosay James knows the Lakers are focusing on Luka Doncic as theteam’s new star, which could likely be a factor in his decision-making.
LeBron Injury Update
While this might be his last year in Laker purple, James has yet to suit up for the team this season.Hewas reported to miss the start of the seasonwith sciatica, but as the days goon, he has still not received an official date of return.
However, Lakers insider Dave McMenamin recently offered a relatively vague update on James, but one that bodes well for the team.
Dave McMenamin
JJ Redick says there is no set return date in mind for LeBron James but the team is eyeing the second or third week of November as the general range. As for Luka Doncic, Redick said the team hopes to have him back sometime in the “next couple of games.”
“JJ Redick says there is no set return date in mind for LeBron James but the team is eyeing the second or third week of November as the general range,”McMenamin wrote in a post on X.
The insider hasnowreported multiple times that mid-to-late November nowlooks like the targeted return for the 40-year-old. Weeks ago, Charaniagave an update that the Lakers are taking a patient approach to his recovery and return, so the slightly pushed-back returnisn’t too unexpected.
“The Lakers and LeBron are looking at around mid-November as a realistic debut for him,”he said on October 15. “A source told me tonight, LeBron will be taking a patient approach with his rehab.”
James and Doncic are two of the few players to grace theLakers’ injury report to start the season. While Maxi Kleber, Gabe Vincent, Marcus Smart, and others have been back and forth on the injured list,it’s been Austin Reaves leading the way for Los Angeles.
Even with the two superstars out, Reaves is putting up MVP-level numbers through theteam’s first five games, a suitable replacement for two of the most impactful offensive players in the game.