The Los Angeles Lakers have announced that LeBron James will miss tonight’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks because of a sore left groin.
Injuries have hurt the Los Angeles Lakers throughout 2019. The team’s season derailed as a result, and now the team is looking forward to the offseason and beginning preparations for the 2019-20 season.
Fans knew winning was no longer a priority for the organization when it was announced that LeBron James would see his minutes restricted the remainder of the season.
James has gone above that 28-32 minute threshold in two of the four games since the announcement was made. So, it calls into question just how seriously the Lakers were taking their newfound tanking efforts.
They are taking the resting part of the minute restriction seriously, as James already sat out a game that was on a back-to-back. Now, he is set to miss another game that isn’t even a part of a back-to-back set.
According to Tania Ganguli of the Los Angeles Times, James will be sidelined for tonight’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks. The reasoning for the absence isn’t load management. Instead, James is being listed out for a sore left groin.
LeBron James will not play tonight due to a sore left groin.
— Tania Ganguli (@taniaganguli) March 19, 2019
The Lakers haven’t played since Sunday when they blew a late game lead to the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Their next game isn’t until Friday when they wrap up their road trip with a visit to the Brooklyn Nets. So, there is probably some legitimate concern about the groin injury that cost James 17 consecutive games earlier this season.
More from Lake Show Life
- Darvin Ham adds to Max Christie hype train after Lakers preseason opener
- Is LeBron James playing tonight? Latest Lakers vs Warriors update
- Can Darvin Ham put all of the Lakers puzzle pieces together?
- Lakers news: Darvin Ham knows his fifth starter, LeBron James and Rui Hachimura, Jalen Hood-Schifino praise
- Michael Malone’s painfully ironic comment has Lakers fans heated
There have been questions about how healthy James is. While his stats are still impressive, he has not looked truly like himself when on the court. In Sunday’s game against the Knicks, he shot 4-of-13 in the fourth quarter.
With the playoffs out of reach for the Lakers, a James shutdown wouldn’t be surprising. Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram have been lost for the season already, and James doesn’t look to be too far behind.
Fans who bought tickets to tonight’s game against the Bucks will be disappointed they won’t get to see James. Instead, they will see Mike Muscala in the starting lineup for LeBron.
Fans will be even more disappointed as the Bucks own superstar, Giannis Antetokounmpo, won’t be suiting up either.
Giannis is dealing with a right ankle sprain and popped up on the injury report Monday.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is out tonight against the Lakers.
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) March 19, 2019
This is the Bucks being cautious with their superstar, as he exploded for a career-high 52 points against the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday. Against a hobbled and defeated Lakers squad, the Bucks are erring on the side of caution, as they have enough firepower to keep up with Los Angeles.
This is a huge bummer for fans, as they pay to see the stars on the court. Hopefully, both James and Giannis can get healthy soon.