The Los Angeles Lakers came back down to earth on Monday night following an exhilarating seven-game winning streak, falling to the Phoenix Suns 125-108 on their home floor.
LeBron James, who missed the Lakers’ Sunday night contest against the New Orleans Pelicans due to left knee injury management, spoke to reporters after the franchise's most recent defeat and made a concerning three-word admission.
“It’s called old,” James said while discussing his ongoing left foot injury management situation.
“You just wake up with (expletive) that you didn’t have the night before.”
While James ultimately returned to action following his one-game absence and contributed 10 points and three assists in Los Angeles’ 17-point loss to Phoenix, it isn’t good news that James is admitting that age is beginning to catch up with him.
Although James is correct in stating that players’ bodies will change as they age and that certain activities will become more challenging, Lakers fans probably hoped he would point to a different reason for his absence against the Pelicans.
On the bright side, it’s not like James is preparing to retire mid-season. The 21-time All-Star has every intention of taking care of his body to the best of his ability to ensure the Lakers are championship contenders heading into the postseason.
Simply put, it isn’t as easy for James to defy age at this stage of his career, but it would be preposterous to suggest the sky is falling in Los Angeles.
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