LeBron out to start camp; eying longer ramp up

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- LeBron James was sidelined to unfastened grooming campy Tuesday with what Los Angeles Lakers manager JJ Redick called "a small spot of nervus irritation successful the glute."

James, who turns 41 successful December, volition go the archetypal subordinate successful league past to person played 23 seasons erstwhile the Lakers big the Golden State Warriors connected opening nighttime adjacent month.

Redick said "the goal" is for James to beryllium recovered successful clip for the Warriors game, but the manager did not regularisation retired James participating successful astatine slightest 1 of the Lakers' six preseason games.

"It's astir apt a small spot longer of a ramp up starring into opening nighttime for him," Redick said of James. "Obviously successful Year 23, it's uncharted territory here."

Redick said that James "probably did excessively much" successful grooming campy past autumn to amusement "buy-in" and acceptable himself and the squad during Redick's maiden voyage arsenic a caput coach.

"It'll beryllium a slower process with him starring into the archetypal game," Redick said. "He's evidently got 22 years truthful acold of deterioration and teardrop connected the assemblage and he's dealing with a small spot of nervus irritation successful the glute.

"So, we're conscionable playing the agelong crippled with LeBron."

James told ESPN connected Monday that "it remains to beryllium seen" however overmuch helium planned to enactment successful grooming campy this year.

"I'm inactive ramping things backmost up," James told ESPN. "I'm not wherever I privation to be. But I mean, I don't privation to beryllium wherever I privation to beryllium close present successful September. So, I got immoderate clip and I'm looking guardant to the process of getting there."

James' campy met with the Lakers' brass starring up to grooming campy with a directive for the squad to beryllium "overly cautious" with the four-time champion successful the aboriginal going successful bid to sphere him for a hopeful agelong playoff tally down the line, sources told ESPN.

James, who averaged 24.4 points, 8.2 assists and 7.8 rebounds for L.A. past season, came into that run declaring his volition to play successful each 82 games. He played L.A.'s archetypal 23 games earlier struggling successful aboriginal December, starring to an eight-day lack erstwhile helium missed 2 games to code soreness successful his near foot. This aft James played successful 3 retired of the Lakers' six preseason games past October.

L.A. opens up its six-game preseason slate against the Phoenix Suns successful Palm Desert, Calif. connected Friday.

James volition not play against the Suns, sources told ESPN. Redick said "it would beryllium nice" to person James suit up for astatine slightest 1 preseason game, however.

"We would emotion to person that happen," Redick added.

While James watched signifier successful thoroughfare apparel Tuesday, Lakers defender Austin Reaves said helium inactive made his beingness felt.

"You know, it's Bron, he's ever going to observe benignant of pass [what helium sees]," Reaves said. "I deliberation that's the attack that he's going to instrumentality close now, [which] is conscionable being 1 of our vocal leaders. That's what he's done his full career."

Redick said that the Lakers besides did not person Gabe Vincent (left genu management), Marcus Smart (left Achilles tendinopathy) and rookie Adou Thiero (left genu swelling) disposable for afloat information successful their opening practice. Redick added that Vincent should beryllium disposable for the preseason opener against the Suns.

As for the Lakers who did play to statesman grooming camp?

"Uh, Luka [Doncic] was beauteous good," Redick said with a smile.