After the Los Angeles Lakers edged out the Golden State Warriors with a 105-99 victory on Saturday, LeBron James shared a heartfelt message regarding Steph Curry, who was sidelined due to injury. Speaking with ESPN’s Lisa Salters, James expressed a preference for competing against a fully healthy Warriors squad, emphasizing the importance of Curry’s wellbeing.
“The most important is health, obviously,”
James remarked.
“Especially for the both of us, where we are in our career, so speedy recovery to Steph. We miss him out here.”
?LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers Forward
This season, James himself has dealt with injury challenges, missing the first 14 games because of sciatica. While it took time to regain his form, he has since delivered performances worthy of an All-Star selection over the last two months. Meanwhile, Curry has been absent for three games due to swelling and pain around his right knee, diagnosed as patellofemoral pain syndrome. He is confirmed out for Monday’s matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies, with hopes to return following the NBA All-Star break.
LeBron Highlights Impact of New Acquisition Luke Kennard
Although the Lakers made modest moves at the trade deadline, they added sharpshooter Luke Kennard from the Atlanta Hawks, trading away guard Gabe Vincent and a future second-round draft pick. James praised Kennard’s ability to create offensive opportunities and facilitate plays during his first game with the Lakers.
“Him being able to crack the defense when they run him off the line, and he made some great spread out passes today,”
James said.
“After he had just hit a three across from our bench, he had another one by our bench and passed it up ’cause he saw Vando (Jarred Vanderbilt) underneath the hole, underneath the rim and Vando got the dunk. (It) forced them (Golden State) to call a timeout. So, just a really good basketball player (that) we happen to have.”
?LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers Forward
James also humorously noted Kennard breaking his high school scoring record in Ohio, while mentioning their shared AAU background. Kennard, a Middletown-native who played for Duke University, entered the NBA as the 12th overall pick by the Detroit Pistons in 2017.
Lakers’ Upcoming Schedule and Team Outlook Before All-Star Break
Before the NBA All-Star break, the Lakers face three home games during their ongoing eight-game homestand. Their schedule includes hosting the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday at Crypto.com Arena, followed by the San Antonio Spurs two days later, and then a clash with the Dallas Mavericks, featuring standout Cooper Flagg.
Following the break, Los Angeles will face more tough opponents, including the Los Angeles Clippers, Boston Celtics, and Orlando Magic. With Luka Doncic still sidelined due to a mild hamstring strain and Austin Reaves gradually returning after a calf injury, the Lakers are relying heavily on James to lead the team.
Currently holding fifth place in the Western Conference with a 32-19 record, the Lakers have won three consecutive games and boast a 7-3 record in their last ten outings. They trail just one game behind the third seed, while Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns remain close competitors in the playoff race.
Significance of Health and Team Dynamics Moving Forward
LeBron James’ remarks underscore the critical role player health plays at this stage of their careers, especially for elite athletes like Curry and himself. The Lakers appear determined to leverage additions like Luke Kennard to maintain momentum during key stretches of the season. With several crucial games ahead and injury returns on the horizon, the team’s capacity to stay healthy will heavily influence their playoff positioning and ambitions.
