The Los Angeles Lakers announced that LeBron James will sit for the rest of the season. The team wants James to sit so that a lingering groin injury can fully heal in time for next season.
“After consulting with our team doctors and medical staff, we have decided to hold LeBron out of games for the remainder of the season," the team said in a statement. "This decision will allow his groin to fully heal, and is best for the future success of both LeBron and the Lakers."
The Lakers were secretly concerned with LeBron's injury earlier this season. Though the organization did not speak through official channels, unnamed sources who spoke to The Athletic said that the star's injury was a matter of concern.
"The Lakers are privately a little concerned about LeBron. Is he fully healed from the groin strain that cost him a career-worst 18 games?" reporter Joe Vardon asked back in February. "Is he going to pick up his intensity and propel this team back into the playoffs, as he did last year in Cleveland?"
While LeBron made his way back onto the team, with the Lakers having no chance to make the playoffs the team no longer sees a need to risk further injury to their most valuable player.
