LeBron James is getting his Lakers back for personal reasons

On By Littum

LeBron James returned to the Lakers’ lineup Sunday night after missing their last two games due to personal reasons and a left foot injury, and while he told reporters he felt “pretty good,” the 40-year-old superstar also revealed, that his foot injury has not faded yet.

“It’s not behind me,” James told reporters after the Lakers’ 116-110 win over the Grizzlies, according to The Athletic. “It’s an everyday thing.”

James added that he has been dealing with the foot injury for a few years, the outlet reported.


LeBron James drives during the Lakers' win against the Grizzlies on Dec. 15.
LeBron James drives during the Lakers’ win against the Grizzlies on Dec. 15. AP

Head coach JJ Redick had previously described his “personal reasons” absence as an excused one.

Redick told reporters Wednesday that James — who missed his first game of the season Dec. 8 against the Trail Blazers — was not with the team and would “take some time” before returning, and that included another missed game Friday against Timberwolves.

But he bounced back Sunday, finishing with 18 points on 7-for-17 shooting, though that didn’t help a scoring average (23.0 points per game entering the night) on pace to be James’ lowest mark since his rookie season ( 20.9).

At one point during this recent slump, James missed 20 consecutive 3-pointers, though he connected on 6-of-11 shots from beyond the arc during his final game before a two-game absence and added three more 3s Sunday .

“I felt my foot, I felt my body … I practiced that Sunday for the Portland game and decided it was probably best if I took that day off,” James told reporters, according to the AP. “I had the opportunity to take several days and get my mind, body and just everything where I wanted to be tonight and I did it.”


LeBron James attempts a shot during the Lakers' win against the Grizzlies on Dec. 15.
LeBron James attempts a shot during the Lakers’ win against the Grizzlies on Dec. 15. NBAE via Getty Images

James, whose son Bronny was drafted by Los Angeles in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft and has bounced between the NBA and the G League, and the Lakers (14-12) don’t play again until Thursday when they travel to face. The kings.

“It’s very rare during the season where you can take advantage of the schedule,” James told reporters Sunday, “and I was able to do that last week.”