LeBron James has yet to play in a game for the Los Angeles Lakers this season, and everyone is eager for the legend to make his season debut. But, it won’t come against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night.
LeBron James will remain on the sideline vs. The Pelicans
James has been officially ruled out of the game against New Orleans as he continues to be sidelined with sciatica. It will be the 13th consecutive game that James has missed to start the season -- the most of his career, by far. Last season, James averaged 24.4 points, 8.2 assists and 7.8 rebounds in 70 games for the Lakers.
The good news for L.A. Is that James is moving closer to a return to game action. He has been practicing with the G League's South Bay Lakers this week, and the practices have been going smoothly. When he does ultimately return, James will become the first player in NBA history to play 23 separate seasons in the league. That's an impressive feat and a testament to his longevity.
Despite the fact that James has yet to play, the Lakers have gotten off to a surprisingly solid start to the season. They've won eight of their first 12 games and currently sit fifth in the Western Conference standings.
The game on Friday night is the second NBA Cup came of the season for both L.A. And New Orleans. The Lakers won their first cup contest over the Memphis Grizzlies, while the Pelicans suffered a defeat at the hands of the Clippers in their first cup game.