LeBron James reveals why he stepped away from LA Lakers as 2024-25 NBA season struggles continue
After an inexplicable two-game hiatus, LeBron James has returned to the Los Angeles Lakers.
James returned on Sunday after missing eight days due to a foot injury.
In his comeback, James helped the Lakers defeat the Memphis Grizzlies 116-110, but he admitted that he never intended to leave the tea.
James told reporters, “I probably would’ve played if it was just me.”
“Keeping me away from it would have been difficult. I also had the opportunity to listen to my team.
“They look out for my best interest.”
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James, who scored 18 points in the Lakers victory, seemed to handle the rest well.
“I had an opportunity to take more days and get my mind, body and everything where I wanted it to be for tonight,” James said.
“And it worked out.”
Despite not taking much time to relax during his absence from the club, James will turn 40 at the end of this month.
“A lot of rehabbing, a lot of training still to make sure that I was ready to go tonight,” he stated.
“Didn’t want to get too much out of shape.”
James will now get more pauses during games, according to Lakers coach JJ Redickis, in an effort to reduce his time out.
Redick said, “Not necessarily less minutes,” to reporters.
“Shorter runs so that he’s not getting gassed and then quicker segments on the bench and then he’s back in.”
Redick hopes to create a more reasonable precedent with James, who wanted to play every game this season.
“I don’t know that’s in the best interest of him and us if he does that,” Redick stated.
New rights deal
Three networks and the NBA inked an 11-year agreement for the league’s rights starting in 2025–2026.
Additionally, for the first time since the network’s 1988 debut, TNT will not be hosting any games.
ESPN and ABC will continue to broadcast the league’s 80 regular-season games, according to The Walt Disney Company.
They will also show around 18 playoff games from the first and second round, a Conference Finals series for 10 of the 11 years, and remain the home of the NBA Finals.
For the first time since 2002, NBC will broadcast the NBA again.
The network will show up to 100 games per season across it’s channels and Peacock streaming service.
It will also be the home of NBA All-Star and show approximately 28 playoff games from the first and second round.
NBC will show one Conference Finals Series for six of the 11 years, rotating with new broadcaster Amazon Prime.
Amazon will show 66 NBA regular-season games including one on Black Friday.
The streaming service is also the home of the latter stages of the NBA Cup and the entire Play-In Tournament.
Prime will also broadcast around one third of the playoff games in the first and second round.
“But if he’s feeling well and feeling good, then he should play. But we obviously want to manage that as best we can.”
James’NBAcareer is definitely coming to a close soon as he fulfilled his goal of playing alongside his son Bronny.
The NBA legend will likely play out his current contract with the Lakers before retiring.
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That contract expires after the 2025-26 season.
James could potentially have a second son entering the league soon, but he likely won’t be able to play alongside him.
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