LeBron James has set aside his new passion for golf as the Los Angeles Lakers attempt to navigate a sudden injury crisis involving co-stars Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
Former teammate J.R. Smith told Yahoo Sports that James canceled a scheduled round of golf in Dallas shortly after learning Doncic and Reaves would miss the remainder of the season.
“Man, I can’t play golf, bro, I got too much on my shoulders right now,” James texted the group chat, according to Smith. “If this was five years ago I would have definitely played.”
The 39-year-old forward had embraced golf as a hobby last summer, even appearing in a Nike Powerbeats Pro 2 commercial centered on the sport. However, with Los Angeles suddenly without its two primary scorers and playmakers, James opted to “lock in” for the playoff push.
Head coach JJ Redick now faces the challenge of reworking the rotation. Before the injuries, the Lakers were playing their best basketball of the year; the absences of Doncic and Reaves leave James as the clear focal point of the offense.
“It’s always next-man-up mentality, so I’m excited to see who can possibly step up for them,” Smith added.
Los Angeles enters the final stretch of the regular season clinging to postseason hopes. How far the team can go without its injured stars remains to be seen, but James’s decision to forego leisure time underscores the urgency inside the locker room.
Source: LakersNation.com
