LeBron James has been out for four games. And the Lakers fell apart. They couldn’t manage a single win without their key man with the only hope coming from the Suns’ game as they edge close to seal the deal. This confirms Shams Charania’s words that the team badly needs him. It’s not just the NBA community that knows it, even the 4x champion is fully aware. However, he can’t rush in with his groin injury, but again, the game must go on. The four straight losses have already pulled the team down to 5th in the Western standings with the Warriors breathing heavy on the neck. And that was enough for JJ Redick. He couldn’t take it anymore. So, before the team faced Phoenix, he made his message loud and clear. And the result is visible on the scoreboard.

The live game broadcast revealed what JJ Redick had conveyed in the LA locker room. “We can’t lose who we are if we lose a few games,” the head coach said. Redick stressed the importance of the Lakers maintaining their spirit and competitiveness, urging the team to bring those qualities to the forefront. Otherwise, all their efforts and hard work would be in vain.

That wasn’t all. Some major updates regarding LeBron were also dropped during the ABC broadcast. LeBron James was spotted around 9 am local time in the arena, working out for 32 minutes. Naturally, this led to inquiries for Redick, especially regarding the expected timeline of LeBron’s return.

JJ Redick drops major update on LeBron James

Before the game against the Suns, Redick clarified that LeBron is considered day-to-day. The coach believes that LeBron knows his body very well and will return to the court when he’s fully ready to lace up. While he couldn’t provide a specific date, he did confirm that it “should be very soon.” So, there you go, Laker Nation, that’s definitely a piece of good news for you.

The Lakers were already dealing with the injuries of some of their impactful players. LeBron was just the glue that seemed to hold them up, but he couldn’t convince his groin to cooperate. And the massive blow came at the TD Garden with the Lakers facing the Celtics. LeBron’s exit from the game left them with no option but to surrender to Boston’s heavy attacks. This was followed by three straight defeats.

With the playoffs around the corner, the Purple and Gold will certainly not take any risks with LeBron’s health, considering how crucial he is for the team. But hopefully, the coach’s strong message will boost them till LeBron James returns. Currently, the team is up against the Suns, holding a slight lead heading into the starting minutes of the third quarter.

The rookie coach is once again facing the critical test. Now, it’ll be fascinating to see what tactical masterstroke Redick applies this time to secure their postseason spot, especially with back-to-back games adding the extra pressure.