Will LeBron James play today against the Milwaukee Bucks? Injury update

As the clock ticks down ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night, all eyes are on the health of LeBron James. At the ripe old age of 41, persistent physical issues have placed LeBron’s status for almost every Western Conference showdown in serious doubt. And he said as much himself.

James is currently listed as questionable on the Lakers’ official injury report with a classic pensioner combination of arthritis and a sciatica. As such, the Lakers opted to rest him in their recent loss to the San Antonio Spurs, prioritising long-term fitness over short-term gain in an already wobbly season.

This cautious approach comes after James missed the first stretch of the season due to more nerve and sciatic concerns, and recently has dealt with left foot joint arthritis and right sciatica that flared up when playing on consecutive nights.

“Every back-to-back, for the rest of the season, is TBD”

“Every back-to-back, for the rest of the season, is TBD,” James admitted earlier in the week. “I am 41. I got the most minutes in NBA history. Bank [that answer] right now.”

“A lot of it is based on his injuries and just the management of those,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “His foot typically after a game is sore. So that’s the primary thing. I talked to him today in the meal room.

“We were hoping that he gets to the point where he can play in back-to-backs with his body. But this stretch and this month, it’s going to be tough to say that. We hope he’s available, but a lot of it is how he wakes up the next morning.”

The Lakers, despite his age and waning physical status, cannot afford to lose James at this point. The player is posting 21.7 points, 6.8 assists and 5.4 boards per game so far this season and is contributing consistently to the team’s output.

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While James’ situation is the headline, he is not alone on the Lakers’ injury ledger. Forward Rui Hachimura has been upgraded to questionable status after missing several games with a calf strain. Meanwhile, Austin Reaves remains sidelined with his own calf issue, and rookie Adou Thiero is out due to a knee injury.

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