For the first time, LeBron James was a NBA All-Star game. Last Sunday evening he missed the last matchup of the weekend because of a persistent discomfort in his left foot and ankle. The Lakers-star was a starter selected for a record of 21 consecutive years, but his goal continues to be played consecutively.
The 40-year-old was also in the Purple and Gold’s most recent victory against the Pacers last weekend due to the same injury. “I hoped it would feel a lot better this morning, but it wasn’t where I wanted it,” said the veteran about his ankle.
The Power Forward was also skipped during the ceremonial training session of Saturday and the media availability, which became a kind of tradition for him, after he had done the same in the last two all-star weekends.
Kendrick Perkins calls for LeBron James for the late on the All-Star weekend showed up and at the last minute pulled out of the competition, so that injury replacements such as Norman Powell were not added
(🎥 @GeULUSPN ))
– Nbacentral (@thedunkcentral) February 17, 2025
The 22-year-old veteran added that he expected to return to action on Wednesday for the first game of Los Angeles after the All-Star break when they play the Hornets. On the way to the collision against Charlotte, his team is number 5 in the Western Conference with a 32-30, after winning 12 of their last 15.
“With 30 games left and that we are trying to make a play -off push in the wild, wild west, I felt that it was very important to me to take care of myself and to understand what is going on [down the stretch]”James said on Sunday morning.
Two of the latter two games with the Lakers were his new teammate and co-star Luka Doncic. LeBron was asked if playing next to the 25-year-old will change how long he expects to continue to play in the NBA before he finally retires.
“I did not give it that kind of thought,” James shared. “Only the excitement of being able to add such a caliber player, such a generation talent to our franchise, it is something that has given me energy. I look forward to seeing what we can do. … I think we can be really good. But we will see what happens. “
