LeBron James is very diligent when it comes to how his body is feeling, and the Los Angeles Lakers superstar intends to prioritize his health for the final stretch of the regular season
Speaking to reporters after Wednesday’s 136-124 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, James said he will be “very strategic” about when and how much he plays:
“Obviously, understanding and seeing how my ankle and my foot is feeling. But just being very smart about it, obviously. We are where we are, but our health has always been the most important for our ballclub. Not just one individual. But for me looking out for myself when it comes to injury and knowing my foot and knowing my ankle and how it reacts, and how it’s been over the last couple of years, it’s just always keeping a hefty eye on it.”
There was no indication anything was wrong with James against the Grizzlies. He finished with 23 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists for his fourth triple-double of the season.
Anthony Davis, who played 52 minutes against the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday, was held out against the Grizzlies.
Los Angeles has won five straight games overall and is a season-high nine games over .500 (41-32). The team is currently the No. 9 seed in the Western Conference, but only three games behind the Dallas Mavericks in the loss column for the sixth spot to avoid the play-in tournament.
The other teams directly ahead of the Lakers in the standings are the Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings, who both have 30 losses.
This recent run of success has also allowed the Lakers to build a cushion of 2.5 games over the No. 10 seed Golden State Warriors (38-34) for home-court advantage in a potential play-in tournament game.
James was diagnosed with ankle peroneal tendinopathy in December. He has frequently appeared on the Lakers’ injury report with an ankle issue for the past three months.
The Grizzlies game was the second night of a back-to-back for the Lakers. James sat out Tuesday’s double-overtime victory over the Bucks. He said after Wednesday’s game he “probably” would’ve tried to play against Milwaukee if he thought it wouldn’t have impacted his long-term availability.
“I got to be smart with it,” James said of his health. “If I’m not healthy, or [anywhere] close to being healthy, then it’s not good for our ballclub anyway. It’s not good for me.”
The Lakers have done a good job of keeping their head above water without James this season. They are 6-4 in 10 games when he’s out of the lineup, with three of those wins coming against the Bucks (twice) and Boston Celtics.