LeBron James will miss his first game of the season when the Los Angeles Lakers play a street game against the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday in their final game before the NBA All-Star break, the Lakers said.
According to a team spokesman, James did not accompany the team after a loss to the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday evening after a defeat of 114: 104 to the Phoenix Suns.
On the way to the Suns game, James was classified as likely with a left ankle sprain he suffered earlier in the season. He’s being treated while in LA, according to the team.
The 36-year-old James had averaged 25.8 points, 8.0 rebounds and 7.8 assists in all 36 games for the defending champions this season, leading LA to a 24-12 record – the third best in the Western Conference .
According to The Athletic, he will continue to report to Atlanta this weekend for his 17th straight All-Star game.
LA could be very understaffed for the second night of their clash in Sacramento, with Anthony Davis (right leg) also excluded, while Marc Gasol (health and safety protocols), Kyle Kuzma (injured right heel) and Alex Caruso (neck cramps) lagged behind the Suns game all in the injury report.