Speaking with reporters after a 124-136 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, James said that he will prioritize his long-term health over the Lakers’ seeding.

“I got to be smart with it,” James said via ESPN. “If I’m not healthy, or [anywhere] close to being healthy, then it’s not good for our ballclub anyway. It’s not good for me.”

James pointed out the recent game against the Milwaukee Bucks, which he decided to sit out while dealing with an ankle injury. He said that he would have probably played in that game if he hadn’t had a long-term picture in mind.

According to James, he is being “very strategic” when deciding on whether to play or to sit out a certain game.

“Obviously, understanding and seeing how my ankle and my foot is feeling. But just being very smart about it, obviously. We are where we are, but our health has always been the most important for our ballclub,” he added.

The Lakers are currently on a five-game winning streak that alleviated some concerns that they might drop out of the play-in tournament. They are currently sitting at No. 9 in the standings with a 41-32 record, having 2.5 games in hand over the Golden State Warriors and 3.5 games over the Houston Rockets, who are outside looking in. The LA team is also just 2.5 games behind the sixth-seeded Dallas Mavericks, who hold the first automatic playoff spot.

The post LeBron James is Prioritizing Long-Term Health Over Lakers’ Seeding appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne, the Warriors’ owner, Joe Lacob, personally reached out to Lakers’ owner Jeanie Buss in order to ask about James’ availability. James has previously expressed frustration over the state of the Lakers’ roster, prompting rumors about him wanting to leave the franchise.

Buss reportedly told Lacob that the Lakers weren’t interested in trading James but still referred him to James and his agent, Rich Paul. If James wanted out, it is believed that she wouldn’t stand in the way.

However, Paul ended up delivering the same answer: James doesn’t want to move and is happy to remain with the Lakers.

Wojnarowski and Shelburne add that Warriors’ forward Draymond Green played a significant role in the attempt to bring James to Golden State. Green was the one who encouraged Lacob to make the call while also trying to get Paul, who is also his agent, to help him recruit James to the Lakers.

It wouldn’t be surprising if the Warriors come knocking on James’ doors in the offseason. The 39-year-old player will become a free agent in the summer, and although he has a player option, he could entertain offers from other teams if the Lakers’ season ends in a disappointment.

Both the Warriors and the Lakers ended up staying pat during the trade deadline. The Warriors are currently sitting at No. 10 in the Western Conference with a 26-25 record. The Lakers are one spot ahead with a 29-26 record.

The post Warriors Attempted to Trade for LeBron James appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most All-Star appearances in NBA history, James will be joined in the Western Conference team by Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant, Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the five starters. The Eastern Conference team consists of Milwaukee Bucks power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, and Bucks guard Damian Lillard.

“Kudos to him, man. He’s a victim of his own work and success,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said of James’ achievement. Currently in his 21st NBA season, James is averaging 24.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 7.4 assists for the Lakers.

The post LeBron James Earns Record 20th All-Star Appearance appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

James turned his ankle during the first half of Thursday night’s game but remained on the court until the 24th minute. He only managed to score 10 points on 3-for-11 shooting before being forced out of the game.

Saturday night’s loss sees the Lakers’ playoff hopes slip further. The team now sits 11th in the Western Conference at 19-21. While Anthony Davis stepped up with a career-high 11 assists and a second-career triple-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds, he was convinced that he still let the team down against the Jazz. “Everyone did their job except me,” Davis claimed. “I didn’t do my job. Obviously Bron was out and everyone has to step up and those guys did. Except myself. So this one’s on me.”

The post LeBron James Sits Out Lakers Loss to Jazz appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The Lakers announced the switch on their social media on Sunday.

NBA retired the No. 6 jersey across the league last summer in honor of late basketball legend Bill Russell. It was the first time the league made such a move. However, the players that wore the No. 6 at the moment of the announcement were able to continue doing so.

James was one of the players who kept No. 6 for the 2022-23 NBA season but has now decided to move on from it as a way to honor Russell, according to his agent Rich Paul.

“It’s LeBron’s decision,” Paul told ESPN. “He chose to out of respect for Bill Russell.”

During his early years in the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron James wore a No. 23 jersey. When he decided to “take his talents” to Miami Heat in 2010, he picked up No. 6 since the franchise retired the No. 23 in honor of Michael Jordan. James also wore No. 6 with the Team USA.

Upon returning to the Cavs in 2014, James once again took the No. 23 and wore it throughout his second stint with the franchise as well as in his first three seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. He then went back to No. 6 ahead of the 2021–22 campaign.

The post LeBron James to Change His Jersey Number From No. 6 Back to No. 23 appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

James is expected to gather several opinions on the best way to handle the injury before deciding on the next step. In case he does get surgery, he would be expected to return in time for the start of training camp for the 2023-24 NBA season.

James tore the tendon in his right foot in February during the 108-111 win over the Dallas Mavericks. At the time, he was reportedly recommended to have the procedure that would end his season. Instead, the 38-year-old player opted for rehabbing and ended up missing only four weeks before returning to court.

While James performed at a high level after returning, there is no doubt that the injury had some impact on his game. He helped the Lakers embark on a run that saw them clinch a playoff spot and reach the NBA Western Conference Finals, where they were swept in four games by the Denver Nuggets. James averaged 24.5 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists during the postseason.

Shortly after the Lakers exited the playoffs, James shocked the NBA world by saying that he would take some time to think about his future and that retiring from professional basketball wasn’t out of the question. However, sources close to the player say that the statement was made in the heat of the moment and that James will almost certainly return for the 2023-24 campaign.

The post Lakers’ Superstar LeBron James Might Need Foot Surgery This Offseason appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

James’ return comes after a 13-game absence due to a torn tendon in his right foot. While two doctors recommended that the Lakers star undergoes surgery to repair the tendon, the doctor who he confided in most advised against this notion.

“Obviously, the rhythm is the most important,” James said of his performance following the Bulls’ game. “”I had a couple of drives and the ball got away from me. A couple of shots didn’t feel as good as before, obviously. But I was out for four weeks, so between that and the wind, just trying to get those things back leading to the final stretch of the season.”

Fellow Lakers star Anthony Davis expressed his joy at James’ return, stating that this will help the Lakers to rediscover their form in the final games of the regular season.

The post LeBron James Returns in Loss to Bulls appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

James has been sidelined since injuring his foot in the Lakers’ 111-108 comeback win against the Dallas Mavericks on February 26. His foot is expected to be reevaluated by the Lakers’ medical staff later in the week, potentially as soon as Thursday, in order to determine the progress of his rehabilitation.

Without James in the lineup, the Lakers have gone 6-5. This puts them at 35-37, thereby tieing for ninth place in the Western Conference standings with just 10 regular season games left to play. Ham remains confident of his team’s ability to perform despite James’ absence.

“I think Bron, him being out has revealed that we have a lot of different weapons that are very capable players on both sides of the ball that can help us achieve the goal that we’re trying to achieve,” Ham stated. “And when he comes back, he’s just going to add to it.”

The post Darvin Ham Expects LeBron James To Return This Season appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The announcement came after James returned to Los Angeles and was evaluated by the Lakers’ medical staff and physicians.

Without James in their lineup, the Lakers have struggled to find form, going 1-1 with a 109-121 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday before beating the Oklahoma City Thunder 123-117 on Wednesday.

James was injured following a drive on Mavericks’ Dwight Powell in the third quarter. He claimed to hear a pop before collapsing onto the floor.

During an interview with ESPN’s Katie George, James explained that he believed that he stepped on Powell’s foot, however, replays showed that there was no contact between the two players.

The post LeBron to Have Injury Reevaluated in 3 Weeks appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The Lakers star collapsed in pain during the third quarter of the game after driving on the Mavs’ Dwight Powell. He ultimately finished the game, scoring 11 points in the fourth quarter.

Following the game, James was spotted walking with a noticeable limp. He is now set to undergo further tests to determine the full extent of the injury and will miss the Lakers’ upcoming game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night.

Although the injury was initially expected to be the result of a physical clash with Powell, video replays revealed that the players did not collide, making the injury noncontact.

James was also out injured before the All-Star break, missing three straight games after experiencing left foot and ankle soreness.

Going 36-62 in all games that James has been absent from since arriving in Los Angeles, the Lakers will need to learn how to cope without their key player should he remain sidelined for the indefinite future. The team is set to finish its three-game trip against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday.

The post LeBron James Potentially Sidelined for Weeks Following Injury appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Speaking with reporters after a 124-136 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, James said that he will prioritize his long-term health over the Lakers’ seeding.

“I got to be smart with it,” James said via ESPN. “If I’m not healthy, or [anywhere] close to being healthy, then it’s not good for our ballclub anyway. It’s not good for me.”

James pointed out the recent game against the Milwaukee Bucks, which he decided to sit out while dealing with an ankle injury. He said that he would have probably played in that game if he hadn’t had a long-term picture in mind.

According to James, he is being “very strategic” when deciding on whether to play or to sit out a certain game.

“Obviously, understanding and seeing how my ankle and my foot is feeling. But just being very smart about it, obviously. We are where we are, but our health has always been the most important for our ballclub,” he added.

The Lakers are currently on a five-game winning streak that alleviated some concerns that they might drop out of the play-in tournament. They are currently sitting at No. 9 in the standings with a 41-32 record, having 2.5 games in hand over the Golden State Warriors and 3.5 games over the Houston Rockets, who are outside looking in. The LA team is also just 2.5 games behind the sixth-seeded Dallas Mavericks, who hold the first automatic playoff spot.

The post LeBron James is Prioritizing Long-Term Health Over Lakers’ Seeding appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne, the Warriors’ owner, Joe Lacob, personally reached out to Lakers’ owner Jeanie Buss in order to ask about James’ availability. James has previously expressed frustration over the state of the Lakers’ roster, prompting rumors about him wanting to leave the franchise.

Buss reportedly told Lacob that the Lakers weren’t interested in trading James but still referred him to James and his agent, Rich Paul. If James wanted out, it is believed that she wouldn’t stand in the way.

However, Paul ended up delivering the same answer: James doesn’t want to move and is happy to remain with the Lakers.

Wojnarowski and Shelburne add that Warriors’ forward Draymond Green played a significant role in the attempt to bring James to Golden State. Green was the one who encouraged Lacob to make the call while also trying to get Paul, who is also his agent, to help him recruit James to the Lakers.

It wouldn’t be surprising if the Warriors come knocking on James’ doors in the offseason. The 39-year-old player will become a free agent in the summer, and although he has a player option, he could entertain offers from other teams if the Lakers’ season ends in a disappointment.

Both the Warriors and the Lakers ended up staying pat during the trade deadline. The Warriors are currently sitting at No. 10 in the Western Conference with a 26-25 record. The Lakers are one spot ahead with a 29-26 record.

The post Warriors Attempted to Trade for LeBron James appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most All-Star appearances in NBA history, James will be joined in the Western Conference team by Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant, Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the five starters. The Eastern Conference team consists of Milwaukee Bucks power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, and Bucks guard Damian Lillard.

“Kudos to him, man. He’s a victim of his own work and success,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said of James’ achievement. Currently in his 21st NBA season, James is averaging 24.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 7.4 assists for the Lakers.

The post LeBron James Earns Record 20th All-Star Appearance appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

James turned his ankle during the first half of Thursday night’s game but remained on the court until the 24th minute. He only managed to score 10 points on 3-for-11 shooting before being forced out of the game.

Saturday night’s loss sees the Lakers’ playoff hopes slip further. The team now sits 11th in the Western Conference at 19-21. While Anthony Davis stepped up with a career-high 11 assists and a second-career triple-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds, he was convinced that he still let the team down against the Jazz. “Everyone did their job except me,” Davis claimed. “I didn’t do my job. Obviously Bron was out and everyone has to step up and those guys did. Except myself. So this one’s on me.”

The post LeBron James Sits Out Lakers Loss to Jazz appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The Lakers announced the switch on their social media on Sunday.

NBA retired the No. 6 jersey across the league last summer in honor of late basketball legend Bill Russell. It was the first time the league made such a move. However, the players that wore the No. 6 at the moment of the announcement were able to continue doing so.

James was one of the players who kept No. 6 for the 2022-23 NBA season but has now decided to move on from it as a way to honor Russell, according to his agent Rich Paul.

“It’s LeBron’s decision,” Paul told ESPN. “He chose to out of respect for Bill Russell.”

During his early years in the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron James wore a No. 23 jersey. When he decided to “take his talents” to Miami Heat in 2010, he picked up No. 6 since the franchise retired the No. 23 in honor of Michael Jordan. James also wore No. 6 with the Team USA.

Upon returning to the Cavs in 2014, James once again took the No. 23 and wore it throughout his second stint with the franchise as well as in his first three seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. He then went back to No. 6 ahead of the 2021–22 campaign.

The post LeBron James to Change His Jersey Number From No. 6 Back to No. 23 appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

James is expected to gather several opinions on the best way to handle the injury before deciding on the next step. In case he does get surgery, he would be expected to return in time for the start of training camp for the 2023-24 NBA season.

James tore the tendon in his right foot in February during the 108-111 win over the Dallas Mavericks. At the time, he was reportedly recommended to have the procedure that would end his season. Instead, the 38-year-old player opted for rehabbing and ended up missing only four weeks before returning to court.

While James performed at a high level after returning, there is no doubt that the injury had some impact on his game. He helped the Lakers embark on a run that saw them clinch a playoff spot and reach the NBA Western Conference Finals, where they were swept in four games by the Denver Nuggets. James averaged 24.5 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists during the postseason.

Shortly after the Lakers exited the playoffs, James shocked the NBA world by saying that he would take some time to think about his future and that retiring from professional basketball wasn’t out of the question. However, sources close to the player say that the statement was made in the heat of the moment and that James will almost certainly return for the 2023-24 campaign.

The post Lakers’ Superstar LeBron James Might Need Foot Surgery This Offseason appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

James’ return comes after a 13-game absence due to a torn tendon in his right foot. While two doctors recommended that the Lakers star undergoes surgery to repair the tendon, the doctor who he confided in most advised against this notion.

“Obviously, the rhythm is the most important,” James said of his performance following the Bulls’ game. “”I had a couple of drives and the ball got away from me. A couple of shots didn’t feel as good as before, obviously. But I was out for four weeks, so between that and the wind, just trying to get those things back leading to the final stretch of the season.”

Fellow Lakers star Anthony Davis expressed his joy at James’ return, stating that this will help the Lakers to rediscover their form in the final games of the regular season.

The post LeBron James Returns in Loss to Bulls appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

James has been sidelined since injuring his foot in the Lakers’ 111-108 comeback win against the Dallas Mavericks on February 26. His foot is expected to be reevaluated by the Lakers’ medical staff later in the week, potentially as soon as Thursday, in order to determine the progress of his rehabilitation.

Without James in the lineup, the Lakers have gone 6-5. This puts them at 35-37, thereby tieing for ninth place in the Western Conference standings with just 10 regular season games left to play. Ham remains confident of his team’s ability to perform despite James’ absence.

“I think Bron, him being out has revealed that we have a lot of different weapons that are very capable players on both sides of the ball that can help us achieve the goal that we’re trying to achieve,” Ham stated. “And when he comes back, he’s just going to add to it.”

The post Darvin Ham Expects LeBron James To Return This Season appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The announcement came after James returned to Los Angeles and was evaluated by the Lakers’ medical staff and physicians.

Without James in their lineup, the Lakers have struggled to find form, going 1-1 with a 109-121 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday before beating the Oklahoma City Thunder 123-117 on Wednesday.

James was injured following a drive on Mavericks’ Dwight Powell in the third quarter. He claimed to hear a pop before collapsing onto the floor.

During an interview with ESPN’s Katie George, James explained that he believed that he stepped on Powell’s foot, however, replays showed that there was no contact between the two players.

The post LeBron to Have Injury Reevaluated in 3 Weeks appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The Lakers star collapsed in pain during the third quarter of the game after driving on the Mavs’ Dwight Powell. He ultimately finished the game, scoring 11 points in the fourth quarter.

Following the game, James was spotted walking with a noticeable limp. He is now set to undergo further tests to determine the full extent of the injury and will miss the Lakers’ upcoming game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night.

Although the injury was initially expected to be the result of a physical clash with Powell, video replays revealed that the players did not collide, making the injury noncontact.

James was also out injured before the All-Star break, missing three straight games after experiencing left foot and ankle soreness.

Going 36-62 in all games that James has been absent from since arriving in Los Angeles, the Lakers will need to learn how to cope without their key player should he remain sidelined for the indefinite future. The team is set to finish its three-game trip against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday.

The post LeBron James Potentially Sidelined for Weeks Following Injury appeared first on yoursportspot.com.