LeBron James is nearing the maximum number of games he can miss while still qualifying for postseason awards, but Lakers coach JJ Redick said that won’t factor into the team’s decisions about when James plays.
James sat out Friday’s loss in Boston and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game in Philadelphia with right sciatica and arthritis in his left foot joint.
He has already missed 16 games. Under the NBA’s 65-game rule, he can only miss one more if he hopes to remain award-eligible.
Redick told reporters that the milestone has never come up in conversations with James or longtime trainer Mike Mancias.
“LeBron and I talk very regularly. Mike and I talk regularly. It’s never come up as something that’s important,” Redick said, via Khobi Price of The Orange County Register. “The biggest thing as we got closer to training camp was getting him healthy, and then as we started the season, getting healthy enough to play, and then re-acclimating him.
“I want all my guys to get whatever award they deserve, but it’s so far down the list.”
James missed the first 14 games of the season with sciatica and didn’t debut until November 18. In six appearances since then, he has averaged 14.0 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 32.8 minutes per game, while shooting .413 from the field and .259 from three.
James turns 41 later this month. Redick made clear the priority is preserving him, not padding his eligibility.
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