LeBron James, the basketball superstar of the Los Angeles Lakers, missed the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday due to discomfort in his left knee. I am a reporter who has covered the Lakers and NBA for ESPNLosAngeles.com during 2009-14, the Cavaliers for ESPN.com during 2014-18, and NBA for NBA.com from 2005-09.
Just before the game, Coach Frank Vogel broke the news that his key player would not be playing due to soreness in his left knee. The team had previously marked James as questionable but eventually ruled him out. Vogel informed the press that James’s status is currently day-to-day, so there’s no guarantee that he’ll be able to play in Friday’s match against Charlotte.
After experiencing right ankle soreness, suspension, and a false positive COVID-19 test, James managed to play in 25 consecutive games for L.A. The Lakers’ record without him stands at 5-8 while they have won 19 games out of the 17 played with him on the lineup. In the recent game against Brooklyn, James scored over 25 points, continuing his impressive streak of scoring in 18 consecutive games.
Recently, the 19-year veteran basketball player shared that he is currently in one of his best offensive zones in his entire career. He is just one game away from surpassing the late Kobe Bryant on the career games played list. Two years ago, he managed to outscore Bryant in career points in Philadelphia before the devastating helicopter crash that claimed the lives of Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven others. On Tuesday, the Lakers celebrated the return of Anthony Davis after a 17-game absence. Moreover, they also signed Stanley Johnson as a forward for the rest of the current season, with an option for the next season.
