LeBron James will miss the Los Angeles Lakers’ first game after the All-Star break on Thursday against the Golden State Warriors, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported Wednesday.
James is dealing with an ankle injury that will sideline him for the highly anticipated matchup. He sprained his left ankle last month.
This will be James’s eighth missed game this season. He played for 14 minutes during the 2024 All-Star Game on Sunday but missed the Lakers’ last game before the break on Feb. 14. The Lakers have gone 4–3 in James’s absences this season.
The Lakers beat the Warriors in a double-overtime classic last month. James led the team in points (36), rebounds (20) and assists (12) in that game.
Fans were also looking forward to seeing James compete against the Warriors after the All-Star break news emerged that the Warriors tried to acquire James before the NBA trade deadline.
James’s agent, Rich Paul, has since emphasized that the Lakers star is committed to his team.