BOSTON, MA - MAY 25: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates his dunk in the third quarter as Jae Crowder #99 of the Boston Celtics looks on during Game Five of the 2017 NBA Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden on May 25, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts.
LeBron James did not practice with the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday and was ruled out for Friday’s preseason game against the Orlando Magic due to a sore left ankle.
Cavs coach Tyronn Lue added that the 32-year-old forward, nicknamed “The King,” was questionable for the team’s season opener against the Boston Celtics at Quicken Loans Arena on Tuesday.
“Got treatment all day today, so I’m not sure if we should be concerned or not,” Lue said. “But it’s pretty sore today, so we’ll just see what happens.”
James has never missed a season opener since joining the NBA 14 years ago. He finished with 17 points, five rebounds, three assists and eight turnovers in 30 minutes during his preseason debut on Tuesday, a loss to the Chicago Bulls.
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J.R. Smith will start for James and Jose Calderon will move into Lue’s player rotation with James out on Friday, Lue said.
Fans have been eagerly awaiting the first Cleveland-Boston matchup of the season after Kyrie Irving was traded to the Celtics earlier this year. Former Celtic Isaiah Thomas, meanwhile, was sent to Cleveland, although he is still suffering from a hip injury.
Cleveland also made some minor moves to the end of the roster Wednesday, waiving 7-foot-3 center Walter Tavares and signing 6-4 guard Isaac Hamilton.
After Eminem lambasted Donald Trump in a freestyle rap at the BET Awards on Tuesday, James tweeted one of Slim Shady’s lyrics from the rap while adding a picture of the character The Thing from the Fantastic Four movies, which he references in his song:
James’ injury also follows reports that Derrick Rose claimed he tried to recruit the King and Dwyane Wade to the Chicago Bulls in 2010.
BOSTON, MA – MAY 25: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates his dunk in the third quarter as Jae Crowder #99 of the Boston Celtics looks on during Game Five of the 2017 NBA Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden on May 25, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts.
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