Lakers announce LeBron James available against Grizzlies after 2-game absence

LOS ANGELES (AP) – The Los Angeles Lakers announced that LeBron James is available for Sunday night’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies after a two-game layoff for personal reasons.

James did not play last Sunday against Portland or Friday at Minnesota. The Lakers announced about 45 minutes before tip-off against Memphis that James’ status had been upgraded from questionable to available.

The Lakers described James’ time away as an excused absence, while noting that he has also been dealing with some soreness in his left foot. Lakers coach JJ Redick revealed before the game with Memphis that he and the four-time NBA MVP met on the day of the Portland game to discuss his plan for a layoff.

“When I talked to him earlier this week, I think I said something along those lines, just hoping he had a good mind-body reset,” Redick said in his pregame availability Sunday. “He said he felt he was.”

James is the NBA’s oldest player, turning 40 on December 30. Including the playoffs, no player in league history has appeared in more games or played more minutes than James — who is in his 22nd season, tying Vince Carter for the NBA record.

Redick indicated he would appreciate it if James felt the need for a few days off.

“I played 15 (years) and was emotionally, mentally, physically drained, fried,” Redick said. “I put everything I had into this match. I had nothing left. For guys like him and (Chris Paul), the Tom Bradys of the world, the Roger Federer’s of the world, it’s hard to fathom having that level of sustained excellence so long because of the toll it takes on all of you, not just your body.”

James entered Sunday averaging 23 points, 9.1 assists and eight rebounds per game this season. He also has seven triple-doubles, second most in the NBA behind only Denver’s Nikola Jokic.

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