LeBron James' Status For Lakers-Suns Game

According to Jared Greenberg of the NBA on TNT, LeBron James has been ruled out.

Feb 25, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

On Thursday evening, the Los Angeles Lakers will face off against the Phoenix Suns in Arizona for their fifth preseason game.

For the game, the Lakers will be without their best player, as LeBron James has been ruled out.

Via Jared Greenberg of NBA on TNT: "LeBron James will not play tonight for the Lakers at the Suns on @NBAonTNT, per source."

LeBron James will not play tonight for the Lakers at the Suns on @NBAonTNT, per source.

— Jared Greenberg (@JaredSGreenberg) October 17, 2024

The Lakers are 1-3 in their first four preseason games.

They most recently lost to the Golden State Warriors by a score of 111-97.

On Friday evening, the Lakers will play their final exhibition when they face off against the Warriors in San Francisco.

Lakers. Suns.

🕢: 7:00 PM PT
📺:@SpectrumSN, NBA on TNT
💻: Spectrum SportsNet+
📻: ESPN LA 710/1330 KWKW pic.twitter.com/fsydRNhK0r

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) October 17, 2024

James is coming off another dominant season where he averaged 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 8.3 assists and 1.3 steals per contest while shooting 54.0% from the field and 41.0% from the three-point range in 71 games.

That said, the Lakers were the seventh seed in the Western Conference and lost to the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the NBA playoffs (in five games).

Oct 15, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (00) defends against Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) during the third quarter of their preseason game at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-Imagn Images / Candice Ward-Imagn Images

The Lakers will play their first game on October 22 when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves in Los Angeles.

James is going into his 22nd NBA season (and seventh playing for the Lakers).

The #Lakers continue preseason action in Phoenix at 7PM.

Pregame coverage starts at 6PM on Spectrum SportsNet. pic.twitter.com/I0tHxRHbsu

— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) October 17, 2024

As for the Suns, they are 3-1 in their first four preseason games.

They will open up the regular season on October 23 when they visit James Harden and the Los Angeles Clippers in California.

Last season, the Suns lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the NBA playoffs.