LeBron James will miss the second straight game due to injury concerns and rumors

CNN
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LeBron James is expected to miss his second straight game amid injury concerns and rumors suggest his time with the Los Angeles Lakers and perhaps even his NBA career could be coming to an end.

The four-time league MVP did not travel with the team before Friday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, according to Shams Charania and Dave McMenamin of ESPN, after missing Sunday’s first game against the Portland Trail Blazers because of soreness in his left foot was missing this season.

James, who turns 40 on Dec. 30, also was not present when the Lakers returned to full practice on Wednesday. Coach JJ Redick told reporters: “He’s out for personal reasons – excused absence.”

According to ESPN, Redick added that James took “some time for himself.”

The NBA’s all-time leading point scorer’s numbers this season are still very good, but not up to his usual standards. James’ 23-point average is his lowest since his rookie season in 2003-04, and his shooting percentage has fallen below 50% in only the second season in the last decade.

“He was asked to come on a couple of times in the game because he was gassed,” Redick said. “We have to be aware that as we play more and more games, just the cumulative effect of playing a lot of minutes. On Sunday, when he was dealing with the foot injury, it felt like a good opportunity for him to get some rest.”

However, there are concerns among Lakers fans that James’ “personal reasons” could be more than just injury-related.

“The (Golden State) Warriors have been dreaming of pairing LeBron with Steph Curry and Draymond Green since last year,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said Wednesday. “They opened an investigation which was closed last February. That was before LeBron played with Steve Kerr and Steph Curry and won the gold medal in the summer. So they will definitely monitor the situation.”

Windhorst added that James would prefer to stay with the Lakers but would like to see an upgrade to the roster given the team’s defensive issues so far this season.

And since James is currently the oldest player in the league, speculation continues as to when the end might be for James.

“My playing time is very limited, so I’m just happy to still be able to play the game that I love,” he said after posting a triple-double with 39 points in Saturday’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons.

“I don’t know how many years that is. Whether it’s one year or two years, whatever the case may be,” he told reporters in November. “I won’t play until the wheels fall off.”

Meanwhile, James’ son Bronny scored the highest point of his career for the South Bay Lakers in his G League away debut against the Valley Suns on Thursday night.