After suffering a left elbow contusion, LeBron James is officially listed as out for the Los Angeles Lakers game against the New York Knicks.
James was previously questionable to play in the Lakers vs. Knicks game, set to tip off on Sunday, March 8, at 3:30 pm EST/12:30 pm PST at Crypto.com Arena on ABC.
While the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and now all-time field goals made leader is still listed on the Lakers’ injury report, he won’t suit up in the game against New York.
In 44 games this season, all of which he has started, James is averaging 21.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and seven assists on 50.4/31.3/74.5 shooting splits.
Is LeBron James Playing Today? Latest Injury Update On Lakers Star
James is out for the Lakers’ game against the Knicks.
He previously suffered the elbow injury during Los Angeles’ Thursday night game against the Denver Nuggets. He left the contest, and though he tried to return, sat out for the final seconds as the Lakers lost.
After the game, James said that his elbow was sore, and didn’t confirm his status for the team’s Friday night game against the Indiana Pacers.
“It’s pretty sore right now,” James said postgame on Thursday. “We’ll see what happens over the next couple of days…Hopefully, I’ll wake up [Friday] and it doesn’t feel too much worse than it is now. Or if it feels better, that would be great. So it’s day-to-day. We’ll see what happens.”
The superstar ultimately sat out the Lakers’ next game due to the injury. However, after the win over the Pacers, Lakers head coach JJ Redick offered a new injury update on James, speaking about his availability for the contest on Sunday against the Knicks.
“LeBron has a contusion,” Redick said. “He’s still banged up, but we think he’ll be available for Sunday.”
James has already missed multiple stretches this season with sciatica, foot, back, and now elbow injuries. On the official NBA injury report, he is listed as out with a ‘left elbow contusion‘ and ‘right foot arthritis.’
Is LeBron James Retiring?
The question of retirement surrounding James has been one that has only grown over the course of this season. The 41-year-old has consistently hinted that the end, as it relates to his historic NBA career, is coming soon, but has yet to officially announce his retirement from basketball.
Over the All-Star Break, James spoke at a press conference and remained mum about his thoughts on retirement and leaving the NBA.
“Yeah, I mean, I want to live,” James said. “When I know, you guys will know. I don’t know. I have no idea. I just want to live, that’s all.”
In a recent interview with the California Post, James said that whenever he does retire, it will come with a lot of emotions.
“I kind of look at it like when you lose a loved one and you have a funeral,” James said. “People tend to be sad, but it’s also a celebration of life. I think for me, when I’m done with this game, it’ll be a celebration of life and not of loss.
For now, while there have been rumors about James leaving the Lakers in free agency to join a new team, there has been no confirmation about a potential retirement after this season.
Lakers Injury Report vs Knicks
Along with James, Maxi Kleber was previously questionable on the Lakers injury report for the game against the Knicks in Los Angeles. The big man has been dealing with a back injury that has kept him out of the team’s last two games, but he has since been upgraded to available for Sunday.
While those were two players previously listed as questionable, the Lakers did take center Deandre Ayton off the injury report. Ayton left the Nuggets game on Thursday with left knee soreness after playing just four and a half minutes, and also missed the Indiana game on Friday. However, Ayton has no injury designation for Sunday.
The Lakers will also be without both Bronny James and rookie Adou Thiero (two-way), as the team’s young players were recently designated back to the G-League South Bay Lakers ahead of the marquee matchup versus the Knicks.
As for New York, the team has Miles McBride (core muscle) and Landry Shamet (neck) listed on their injury report. McBride is out as he recovers from surgery in February, while Shamet is questionable with a neck strain.
The Lakers vs Knicks game will tip off on Sunday, March 8, at 3:30 pm EST/12:30 pm PST at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, and will be nationally televised on ABC after the conclusion of the Boston Celtics vs Cleveland Cavaliers game.
Is LeBron James Playing Today? Latest Injury Report News For Lakers vs Knicks