Cleveland Cavaliers Star LeBron James' Status for Season Opener Still Uncertain Due to Sprained Ankle
LeBron James had been dealing with a sprained left ankle for a couple of weeks now and his status for the start of the season remains unclear.
If he is unavailable, J.R. Smith will likely get the start at small forward. However, Smith is confident that James will suit up for the Cavaliers when they take on Kyrie Irving and the new-look Boston Celtics in Tuesday's regular season opener.
"Oh, he's going to go. He's going to go, trust me on that. I don't care what he's got to do, he's going to play," Smith said, via ESPN.
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"We were talking about it. He's never missed, since he was 8 years old and he started playing, he's never missed a first game. I'm preparing for him to play," he added.
The four-time most valuable player has never missed a season opener in his National Basketball Association (NBA) career, and he probably doesn't want to sit out this one. He did miss most of training camp and preseason due to the injury, so it's a cause for concern early on this season.
James tested his ankle during Sunday's practice and he went over some plays before he received treatment. He also practiced on Monday, but he did not speak with the media afterward.
Meanwhile, Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue has admitted that he's not really sure if the 13-time All-Star will play against the Celtics.
"You know, I never hide stuff from you guys. I really don't know," Lue said, according to ESPN. "I mean, just depends on how he feels after today, but I really don't know," he added.
However, Lue did add that he is preparing as if James will play on Tuesday.
In any case, the Cavaliers will surely feel James' absence if he's forced to sit out the season opener against the Celtics.
