The Lakers announced on Wednesday that LeBron James is expected to miss Thursday’s game against Golden State due to his ongoing left ankle injury.
James announced before the All-Star Game on Sunday that he planned to receive further treatment for peroneal tendinopathy over the break. While he made no mention of the type of treatment, he did imply that he might miss the Warriors game.
It is unknown what condition he will be in for the games on Friday against the San Antonio Spurs and Sunday against the Phoenix Suns. James has already missed three back-to-back games this season due to ankle problems. James limited his playing time on Sunday to lessen the strain on his ankle.
Although there isn’t much worry that James would miss a lot of time, league sources told ESPN that the goal of the treatment is to help him close out the season stronger.
Last month, in a legendary double overtime game against the Warriors in San Francisco, James finished with 36 points, 20 rebounds, and 12 assists. With three games remaining in the regular season, the Lakers and Warriors are tied for the most losses at the conclusion of the All-Star break.
Being in second place has never been fun for Kevin Durant.
Being the second-best player on his high school team and the second pick overall in the 2007 draft, he is well-known for declaring that he is “tired of being second.” Maybe that’s why he took the time on Tuesday to address remarks made by Charles Barkley during an alternate TruTV broadcast of the All-Star Game.
“I don’t mean to offend Kevin. Kevin is an adherent. He lacks leadership qualities. “He’s demonstrated that with every stop,” Barkley remarked during the match. “Devin Booker is also a really skilled player. He’s going to need to step up and lead this Suns squad to the next level, in my opinion. However, I stated the same thing to Boston: Booker must advance if Phoenix is to succeed in my opinion. One of your guys must advance, he must advance.”
Barkley has expressed strong opinions over Durant’s trade-ins and club exits. Barkley described him as “very sensitive” and “part of a generation that can’t be criticized” in a March 2023 interview with CBS.
During an extensive interview for Durant’s platform, Boardroom, KD’s agent Rich Kleiman questioned him about Barkley’s recent remarks and his reputation in the league.
“I don’t feel like I want people to call me a leader, but I also don’t want people to say I’m not one either, because they don’t see what goes on behind the scenes of what I talk about or my intentions or relationships that I’ve built with my teammates and my support staff,” Durant stated.
He characterized anyone who criticized his leadership as “not being aware” of his style.
Frank Vogel, the coach of the Suns, defended Durant on “Bickley & Marotta” on Wednesday.
“He definitely leads by example, but he also speaks up when he needs to,” he stated. “Not every player is going to be a rah-rah type,” Vogel stated. Each player takes the lead in a different method. You must take the lead in accordance with your nature. As much as Rick Pitino inspired me to become a coach, I’ve long since realized that I can’t walk in and try to be him. We have distinct personalities.”
In the Boardroom discussion, Durant’s personality was also discussed, and he gave an explanation for why people are curious in his manner.
“I’m not as charismatic as my peers; I don’t have a personality that’s fit for TV like my peers,” he stated. “I haven’t sold it enough, and you have to sell what you’re doing too. Not only do I not feel that I need to be called a leader, but I also don’t feel that I want to be told that I am not one.”
Durant also talked on the “greatest of all time” debate and if he ought to be mentioned when the topic of GOATs comes up. Kleiman questioned Durant about his knowledge of the “asterisk” that has been placed next to his name in NBA history.
“I feel like I’ve accomplished things on a court and been in situations that the greatest have seen, so I feel like I can have a conversation about basketball with the Michael Jordans or the Kobe Bryant or the LeBron James, not about bragging about how much we’ve done, but what did you see out there, and did I see the same things.”
Be the first to comment