Lakers Announce Unfortunate LeBron James News Before Peli...

By Rowan Fisher-ShottonShareNewsweek is a Trust Project member

The Los Angeles Lakers downgraded LeBron James to out for Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans as the 40-year-old continues to manage a left-foot issue.

James had previously missed significant time with a sciatica issue that he developed in late July and sidelined him throughout training camp and the preseason.

The nerve problem kept him out of the Lakers’ opening stretch, including the first 14 regular-season games, marking the first time in his career he missed opening night.

The latest move stems from a left-foot injury and comes on the front end of a back-to-back as L.A. prepares to host the Phoenix Suns on Monday.

Entering Sunday, James has averaged 16.5 points, 8.3 assists, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.0 steals on 49.1% shooting in 32.5 minutes across four games this season.

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Los Angeles has gotten off to a strong start this season, sitting second in the Western Conference (14-4 entering Sunday) and third overall in the NBA standings, behind only the Oklahoma City Thunder (19-1) and Detroit Pistons (16-4).

Luka Doncic leads the NBA in scoring (35.1 PPG), along with 9.4 assists and 8.4 rebounds per game, while Austin Reaves has developed into one of the league's brightest young stars, averaging 28.5 points, 6.7 assists, and 5.9 rebounds in 36.6 minutes per game.

Deandre Ayton, acquired in the offseason, has provided timely scoring and defense, averaging 15.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks in 29.6 minutes across 16 games.

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James' left-foot management is the immediate reason for the scratch, but it’s part of a broader, ongoing load-management and durability plan for him this year.

The team has been cautious throughout the offseason and into the regular season, limiting his practice participation and monitoring soreness.

After Sunday’s Pelicans date (now without James), the Lakers return to Crypto.com Arena Monday to host the Suns, then begin a short East Coast swing that includes games at Toronto (December 4), Boston (December 5), and Philadelphia (December 7).

The team has signaled it will evaluate James day-to-day with an eye toward the back half of the week.

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