Lakers’ LeBron James gets final injury update vs. Kings

The Los Angeles Lakers will face the Sacramento Kings on Saturday night at Crypto.com Arena without their superstar forward LeBron James, who has been sidelined due to an illness. While the NBA’s injury report initially listed James as questionable, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin confirmed that the four-time NBA MVP would miss the game.

“LeBron James will miss Saturday’s game against SAC with an illness, sources told ESPN. It will be his third missed game of the season,” McMenamin reported. James was also absent from Friday’s practice due to the same illness.

Key Absence for the Lakers

LeBron’s absence is a significant blow to the Lakers as they attempt to sweep their 2024-25 regular-season series against the Kings. The Lakers have already defeated Sacramento in their three previous matchups this season. In those games, James was instrumental, averaging 27.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 7.7 assists while shooting 49.3% from the field in an average of 34.1 minutes per game.

Without James, the Lakers lose their best weapon against a division rival and will have to lean heavily on players like Anthony Davis and D’Angelo Russell to maintain their dominance over Sacramento.

LeBron’s Recent Performance

The news comes shortly after James’ stellar performance against the Golden State Warriors on Christmas Day, where the Lakers secured a dramatic 115-113 victory. The 39-year-old forward, who turns 40 on Monday, showcased his elite form with 31 points, 10 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block in 37 minutes of action. His play was pivotal in helping the Lakers outlast Stephen Curry and the Warriors in San Francisco.

Upcoming Games and Milestone

James will have his next opportunity to return on Tuesday when the Lakers face his former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, in a highly anticipated matchup. The game will mark a special moment as LeBron celebrates his milestone 40th birthday and looks to continue his legacy of excellence against the franchise where he began his legendary NBA career.

A New Era for the Kings

Meanwhile, the Kings will enter Saturday’s game with significant changes. This will be their first game without Mike Brown as head coach, who recently parted ways with the team. Doug Christie, the former Kings player, will take over as the team’s interim head coach. With a new leader at the helm, Sacramento will aim to bounce back against a short-handed Lakers squad.

Final Thoughts

The Lakers, despite their recent momentum, will have to adapt without their leader against the Kings. With LeBron sidelined, all eyes will be on the team’s supporting cast to step up in his absence. For fans, the hope to remains that James will recover quickly and return to action, especially as he approaches a personal milestone and continues to lead the Lakers’ pursuit of success this season. It is also worth noting that the Lakers will be the first test for the Kings since they parted ways with Mike Brown. This will also be Sacramento’s first game with Doug Christie as the team’s interim head coach.