Reports came out Friday that LeBron did not practice, and may be in question to play in Cleveland's season-opener next week. LeBron received a back-injection over a week ago to reduce inflammation in his lower back.
"Is it by choice?" James asked of being held out. "No, it's not. But it's the schedule I'm on, and I'm trying to listen to the training staff and not be hard-headed, and I'm going with them. When they tell me I'm cleared to practice, I'll practice."
This was the second shot he has received. He got one during the season last year as well, and may have to take a backseat this season like he did last year. It was clear LeBron didn't play like he used to night in and night out, and he may have to do so yet again to save himself for playoffs.
"We have it set up to where if I need it, we can do it again," James said. "Hopefully it don't come to that, but it's a possibility, but that's all part of the process. It's there if we need it."
General manager David Griffin believed we would see LeBron when it's all said and done on game day, but that was on Tuesday.
"I don't think that there's any reason that he won't play on Tuesday," Griffin said. "We have no reason to believe that, but we also are of the mindset that it wouldn't be the end of the world if he didn't play on Tuesday. We just want him to get better every day, and he has been, and he's been progressing and feeling like we'd like him to feel."
LeBron cut some weight heading into last season, and it will likely help him to stay in the league more consistently the next years of his career. We shouldn't be worried about LeBron when it comes to if he'd miss time in the playoffs, but with Kyrie Irving already out until likely 2016, the Cavs need a floor-general soon.