LeBron James, the Los Angeles Lakers’ superstar forward, will miss Friday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks due to a painful left ankle, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
The 39-year-old James has played in fewer than 60 games in each of the last several seasons, but he has remained relatively healthy this season, missing time solely for rest or maintenance.
LeBron’s ankle has been bothering him in recent weeks, and he was forced to leave the Lakers’ 130-120 loss against the Sacramento Kings in the fourth quarter on Wednesday.
According to McMenamin, James stated that he has been battling with the ankle injury since before the All-Star break and that he will be “all right.”
Despite being the NBA’s oldest player, James continues to produce exceptional numbers that verge on MVP-worthy.
So far this season, the future Hall of Famer averages 25.3 points, 8.0 assists, and 7.1 rebounds per game.
Competing in a crowded Western Conference, the Lakers have failed to make significant progress in the standings. They are presently ranked 10th in the conference, with a 34-30 record.
The Lakers’ ultimate goal, however, is to make the playoffs in any capacity, having made a deep run to the Western Conference Finals last season despite having to compete in the postseason play-in tournament.
To have playoff success and possibly compete for a title, the Lakers will need both James.
