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NEW ORLEANS – Luke Walton, coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, said his star player, LeBron James, wanted to finish the season, but his team convinced him otherwise.
The Lakers have announced this weekend that James will be eliminated from the last six games to allow his left wing tense to heal completely.
"He wants to play," Walton said before the Lakers play Sunday against the New Orleans Pelicans. "After what I understood from the medical staff, they finally said:" Look, it's no longer worth it. Let's make sure you have a healthy summer. " So it's the decision that has been made and we will move on without it for the last six. "
James, 34, finished the season with an average of 27.4 points (tied for fifth in the NBA), 8.5 rebounds and 8.3 assists (third) in 55 games. The Lakers failed to qualify for the playoffs for a record sixth consecutive season, marking James' personal streaks with 13 consecutive appearances in the playoffs and eight consecutive NBA finals.
LeBron James will be retained for the rest of the season to allow his groin to heal completely, announced the Lakers in a statement released Saturday.
It is rare that a moment causes the fall of a season. The failures of the Los Angeles Lakers 2018-2019 began in 2017.
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L.A.'s hopes in the playoffs were officially shattered with a 111-106 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on March 22, with 10 games to play in the season. James then took part in three of the Lakers' four following games – all wins – before the decision was made to close him.
Why was this decision not made sooner?
"Well, I think that brings him back to wanting to participate," Walton said. "Even if it's over, he wants to play with his guys." Finally, it's easier to say to someone like this: "Let's take care of your health now." "So it's a bit like that the decision has come."
James suffered a slight tear in the left groin on Christmas Day, which made him miss the next 17 games of the Lakers, making it the most important injury of his 16-year career. Walton said that when James attended games for what the team has termed "load management" since returning from groin injury, he is using this time to receive treatment. " two or three times a day "from the Lakers medical staff.
"He's going to work in the weight room and will do everything in his power to take care of himself and his body," said Walton, referring to James' program during the last week and a half of the season. . not on the ground.
James joined the Lakers on their last trip on the season of the season, during a two-game jaunt to New Orleans and Oklahoma City, even though he's not playing. Walton said that James' presence in the team made sense.
"I think it's good for guys," Walton said. "You know that part of this season has been," Look, we put you with a lot of young players. There are a lot of new guys, with respect to autonomous players and others. "So, the longer the time that they would spend together ideally on the ground would be beneficial, but whenever they can come together, I think it also helps for the future."
From Walton's point of view, James sits Sunday on a sports ball in the visitors locker room at Smoothie King Center, watching the NCAA tournament with his teammates and mocking the Duke-Michigan State match.
"They have dogs," said Kyle Kuzma, from Flint, Michigan, is rooting for the Spartans.
A few pieces later, Duke's Zion Williamson dipped the ball after an impressive crash.
"Dog that," said James, who is taking root for Duke because his coach, Mike Krzyzewski, coached him with USA Basketball.
The Lakers did not give James the means to talk to the media about the decision to sit down.
Walton said the last stretch of the season would be tough without James, but would offer an opportunity to the rest of his young team.
"It's going to be a challenge, but you know, it can be exciting if the guys get into the adventure," he said. "This group is fun, because we are very excited to be coaching this group recently, as well as how they have been done, LeBron has been a key part of this project, things are different, but still Once, everyone has the chance to play and try to help us win even more games. "
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