LeBron James Will Sit Out Lakers-Jazz Game

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James won’t play against the Utah Jazz on Wednesday (2/14). 

The Lakers are on the second night of a back-to-back. LeBron, 39, played 31 minutes against the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday (2/13).

LeBron said he will NOT play tomorrow night in Utah on the second night of the back-to-back.

— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) February 14, 2024

The Lakers beat the Pistons by a final score of 125-111 to improve to 29-26 on the season. LeBron put up 25 points and eight assists while shooting 9-of-15 from the field, 3-of-6 from beyond the arc and 4-of-4 from the free-throw line. 

The Jazz game is the Lakers’ final contest before the All-Star break. LeBron and Anthony Davis are on the Western Conference All-Star team. 

A future Hall of Famer, LeBron can become an unrestricted free agent this summer if he declines his 2024-25 player option worth $51.4 million. According to Zach Lowe of ESPN, The King “would like to finish” his career with the Lakers. 

“On LeBron James, look I can’t sit here and really tell you I know what LeBron wants out of life,” Lowe said on his podcast. “Everything I’ve heard for years, including today, is if he has his druthers, he would like to finish his career with the Lakers. There are pipe dream scenarios out there where like well Philly has all this cap space. Could he opt-in and ask for a trade to Philly? I haven’t heard that those things are real. I think he wants to finish his career a Laker. I think he probably will opt-in. Is he really opting out of $51 million?”

When reporters asked him in New York if he knows what he’s going to do with his player option for next season, LeBron said, “No.”

A four-time MVP and four-time Finals MVP, LeBron is averaging 27.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 7.9 assists in a Lakers uniform. The Akron Hammer wants to play with his son, Bronny, in the NBA next season.