The Los Angeles Lakers will take on the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night. It will be their first game since the blockbuster trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Mavericks in exchange for Anthony Davis. This game marks a significant moment for LeBron James and his squad as they prepare to compete without their former star big man.
Luka Doncic has officially joined the Purple and Gold franchise. Nevertheless, he won’t be able to suit up just yet due to a lingering left calf strain. With Doncic sidelined, the burden of leading the Lakers falls heavily on LeBron’s shoulders.
Ahead of the game, the Lakers provided an injury update on James. The team listed him as probable due to left foot injury management. While he is dealing with some discomfort, the fact that the 40-year-old veteran remains available offers some relief for the team, at least until Doncic is healthy enough to debut for his new squad.
Lakers’ injury report for tomorrow vs. the Clippers: pic.twitter.com/RBjXEwSvFP
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) February 4, 2025
For Tuesday, Maxi Kleber remains out with a right foot fracture, while Christian Wood continues to recover from left knee surgery. Additionally, the Lakers listed Dorian Finney-Smith and Gabe Vincent as questionable due to their shoulder and knee contusions, respectively.
Jeff Teague Says Lakers Are Moving Past LeBron James
With Luka Doncic now a member of the Lakers, many believe that LeBron James’ time as the face of the franchise is coming to an end. During an episode of the Club 520 Podcast, former NBA star Jeff Teague suggested that the Lakers have made a clear decision to build around Doncic.
“I think it’s a bigger play here. Now that it happened, obviously, the Lakers know our franchise is in Luka’s hands now. Bron, you’re done; you’re on the way out; we’re going to build around Luka. He understands that he’s 40 years old,” Teague said.
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LeBron is aware that his NBA career is winding down. While the transition to a new franchise leader is inevitable, it’s not necessarily something that will trouble James. If Luka proves capable of carrying the Lakers forward, LeBron will likely be content, knowing that the team is in good hands as he nears retirement.
