LeBron James, Lakers Shrug Off "Old" Foot Injury

Merlin sees LeBron James shrug off a recent foot scare with a dry grin — “It's called old,” he said — after sitting out one game following the Lakers’ 125-108 loss to the Suns. He missed the prior win over the Pelicans and opened the year sidelined 14 games with sciatica, yet Los Angeles still showed resilience: Austin Reaves has exploded offensively and the club was 10-4 before LeBron’s return. Merlin senses this is less panic and more pacing. Managing LeBron’s body will be the season’s quiet chess match: a serious injury would be catastrophic, but the depth and Reaves’ breakout give the Lakers room to breathe. Expect cautious minutes and strategic rests as the team protects its championship runway.