SAN ANTONIO — LeBron James will not play in the Los Angeles Lakers‘ game against the Spurs on Tuesday because of a sore right ankle, the team announced.
Lakers coach Frank Vogel, when asked about James’ injury, said the team is taking “a marathon approach” with him. Malik Monk will start in James’ place Tuesday night and Rajon Rondo will also be back in the rotation.
James suffered the injury in Sunday’s win against the Memphis Grizzlies when Desmond Bane fell into James’ right leg after scoring a layup, causing James to go to the floor.
Team medical staff evaluated James and made the decision to hold him out. James did not test the ankle out on the court on Tuesday.
James missed 26 games last season with a high right ankle sprain, but Vogel said the Lakers star did not aggravate that injury.
“Same ankle. Different spot. Different injury,” Vogel said.
L.A. plays the second leg of a back-to-back Wednesday in Oklahoma City, and Vogel did not rule out James’ return against the Thunder.
“Questionable. Going to see how he feels,” Vogel said. “He’s just day to day, and he’ll get evaluated again tomorrow and see what the soreness is like and make a decision then.”
James, 36, is averaging 26 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists through the Lakers’ 1-2 start to the season.