LeBron says rest only remedy for foot pain but plays vs. Clippers

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James said his ongoing foot soreness can only be improved with extended rest, according to Jovan Buha of The Athletic.

However, the 37-year-old still played against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday after sitting out his team's 23-point loss Monday to the Utah Jazz.

The Lakers will also gauge James' status in future back-to-backs depending on how he's feeling, according to Buha. Monday was the team's second game of a back-to-back and the first for L.A. this season. The Lakers don't have another back-to-back until Nov. 25-26, with both games against the San Antonio Spurs.

James has been afflicted by pain in his left foot since at least the second game of the 2022-23 season, when the Lakers' injury report first mentioned it. However, he hadn't missed any time until Monday's contest and still averaged 24.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 7.1 assists in the nine games leading up to his first absence of the season.

The Lakers have slumped to a 2-8 record through 10 games - the second-worst record in the Western Conference. Along with James' foot issue, the Lakers are also trying to manage star big man Anthony Davis' persistent back soreness. Davis, like James, has missed just one game this season.