The Los Angeles Lakers cannot catch a break when it comes to players missing games this season. NBA superstar LeBron James, who has played in only 11 games thus far this season, is set to miss more time.
James entered the league’s health and safety protocols on Tuesday night and missed the game against the Sacramento Kings. He will be sidelined for at least the next 10 days unless he can return two negative tests in 24 hours before those 10 days.
James, who said during Lakers’ media day in training camp that he is vaccinated, could return before those 10 days are up. However, based on what we have seen from other players around the league that have entered protocols, it would be surprising if he returned earlier than that even with the vaccination.
We have seen players miss as many as three weeks that have landed in the league’s health and safety protocols for a positive test. Missing 10 days is tough enough, but if they are showing symptoms, they are sidelined even longer. Then, once the symptoms subside, the player needs to get his conditioning back up before taking the court.
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There is some optimism that James could return sooner than later. Anthony Davis revealed that he talked to him and that he is doing well.
“He said he’s good,” Davis said after leading L.A. with 25 points in James’ absence. “I think he’s asymptomatic, which is a good sign, but we want to make sure that he gets back. Health is most important. This is bigger than basketball. He has a family. We want to make sure that he’s good no matter what.”
The Lakers picked up a come from behind win over the Kings on Tuesday night, winning 117-92 after trailing by as many as 14 in the first half. Struggling without James on the court is nothing new for the Lakers, who have struggled to keep up with teams when their best player is sidelined.
“Obviously, it’s a huge loss,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said in his pregame remarks Tuesday. “It’s disappointing. We just want the best for him right now. That’s where our thoughts are. And we have a next man up mindset.”
Talen Horton-Tucker is likely to be the next man up for the team. He stepped into James’ spot in the lineup against the Kings but played only 16 minutes.
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If James is sidelined for 10 days, he will miss at least another four games. Two at home against the LA Clippers and Boston Celtics and two on the road against the Memphis Grizzlies and Oklahoma City Thunder. A home game against the Orlando Magic on December 12th could be difficult for James to make depending on how his conditioning and cardiac screening go, two things required by the league before getting back on the court.
Normally seeing the Thunder and Magic on a schedule without LeBron James would be encouraging, but the Los Angeles Lakers have already lost to Oklahoma City twice without James in the lineup this season, blowing leads in both games.
