LeBron James may not be playing for the LA Lakers for the rest of the season, but he isn’t taking it easy either. Despite not making it to the NBA play-offs in his first year at the STAPLES Center, LeBron is focusing on getting back to top form and staying ready for the next season.
A groin injury sidelined the former Cleveland star around Christmas, forcing him to miss a record 17 games in a row. Instead of kicking back and relaxing, LeBron is working hard to recover and ensure he comes back even stronger in the future.
LeBron James is hitting the gym and staying active even though he won’t be playing for the remainder of the NBA season.
After receiving treatment for his injury, he returned to the gym on Monday to do a T-Bar Row workout, as captured on video. The Lakers staff are already planning for the next season and have given him time off to fully recover.
“Lakers coach Luke Walton shared with reporters before the recent game in New Orleans that LeBron is eager to get back on the court,” he said. However, after consulting with the medical team, they decided it would be best for him to focus on healing for the summer instead of risking further injury. Therefore, LeBron will not be playing in the final six games of the season.
LeBron displayed his strength in the gym by effortlessly lifting heavy weights during his workout, showcasing his athleticism. Despite being the NBA’s fifth-leading scorer with an average of 27.4 points per game, he won’t be playing in any more games this season, marking his first non-playoff season since 2005, his second year in the league.
LeBron watched from the sidelines as his team secured a victory in New Orleans this past Sunday.
He will be traveling with the Lakers to Oklahoma City but won’t be playing in the upcoming games. On Monday, he also mentioned that he won’t be joining Team USA at the FIBA World Cup in China this summer, although he hasn’t ruled out the possibility of competing in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
There were rumors that he might reconsider playing in the World Cup after the Lakers missed the post-season, but James clarified to The Athletic that he had never planned to join coach Gregg Popovich’s team. Despite his admiration for Popovich, James explained that this summer is not the right time for him, especially with his busy schedule working on the film ‘Space Jam 2.’
When asked about the 2020 Olympics, James mentioned that playing under Popovich in Tokyo is a potential option, depending on how he feels. He expressed his love for the Olympics and the chance to compete would mark his fourth appearance, having won gold in 2008 and 2012, and bronze in 2004.