LeBron James sat out of the Los Angeles Lakers’ first practice of training camp with a minor injury Tuesday.
James has “a little bit of nerve irritation in the glute,” coach JJ Redick said after the workout at the Lakers’ training complex.
James will become the first player in NBA history to play 23 seasons when the Lakers open the regular season on Oct. 21 against Golden State. That game is the target for James and the Lakers, who will work together to manage the 40-year-old superstar’s workload against injuries and exhaustion, particularly during training camp.
While the top scorer in NBA history still might play during the preseason, Redick said the Lakers are “playing the long game with LeBron.”