LeBron James is among a hefty list of injury absences for the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, ensuring that one of the NBA superstar’s incredible career streaks will come to an end.<\/p>\n
James, 41, was ruled out of Tuesday’s clash with Victor Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs with left foot arthritis.<\/p>\n
The injury management strategy on the second night of a back-to-back means James will miss his 18th game of the season and won’t be eligible for season awards, bringing to an end his record 21-year run of earning selection to at least one of the three All-NBA teams.<\/p>\n
James last failed to make an All-NBA squad in 2003-04, his rookie season with the Cleveland Cavaliers.<\/p>\n
He’ll be joined on the sidelines by teammates Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Marcus Smart.<\/p>\n
Doncic will miss his third straight game with a hamstring strain, Reaves, will sit out the second night of a back-to-back as the team manages the calf injury that sidelined him for 19 games, and Smart is out with a sore right ankle.<\/p>\n
Injuries have been a key factor as the Lakers struggled for consistency this season.<\/p>\n
But after Monday’s loss to the NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder James was blunt in his assessment of Los Angeles’ shortcomings, and he didn’t use injuries as an excuse.<\/p>\n
“You want me to compare us to them,” he said. “That’s a championship team right there. We’re not.<\/p>\n
“We can’t sustain energy and effort for 48 minutes, and they can. That’s why they won a championship.”<\/p>\n
James scored 14 of his 22 points in the second half on Monday, but after 35-plus minutes on court he admitted he was feeling the strain.<\/p>\n
“I’m tired,” he told reporters after the Lakers saw a three-game winning streak end.<\/p>\n
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