The NBA 2023-24 season is officially open after the Preseason opener between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Dallas Mavericks on Thursday. The star-studded Abu Dhabi game lived up to the hype as Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic took to the court after a long break. Now, the NBA world’s focus shifts to the Saturday night Los Angeles Lakers‘ preseason opener against the Golden State Warriors. However, the doubts regarding the participation of the superstar LeBron James are still in the air. And, a recent report clears it.

The Akron Hammer is all set to step into his 21st NBA season and, importantly, under full fitness. He could play only 55 games in the last season, because of a foot injury. Since the 4x NBA Champion is on the last stretch of his career, it’s logical for him to prioritize rest and save the best for latter. Nevertheless, he earlier promised to play in preseason games. Let’s find out what the recent report has to say!

Will LeBron James play the Lakers’ preseason opener?

Leading into the 2023-24 campaign, the Lakers seemed to be in a comfortable spot, especially after Austin Reaves FIBA heroics. On the other hand, LeBron James‘ legacy is also on the line. While King James’ future in the league is uncertain, fans don’t want to miss a beat, starting with the LA side’s preseason games. However, James recently said, “Six preseason games, so hopefully I can get to at least half of them,” reported Bleacher Report. 

Following James’ statement, his participation in the opening game was unsure. The recent report suggested that he won’t play in the game against the Warriors. Mike Trudell, a Lakers beat reporter, tweeted, “LeBron won’t play in the preseason opener, continuing a pattern from the last several training camps of having a plan re: how many minutes he’s on the court.” 

On the other hand, head coach Darwin Ham spoke the gospel, as he said, “He’s in phenomenal shape … and he’s probably played more than the rest of our roster combined.”

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While the question on LBJ’s participation in the opener is clarified, Anthony Davis is still on the line.

Will AD play the opener?

There isn’t any official word about Anthony Davis’ participation in the opener. At the same time, the videos of him, grinding alongside his teammates took the internet world by storm. Notably, AD missed out on majority of games in the last season due an injury. He holds a crucial spot in the Lakers’ roster, securing the rebounds and showing offensive strength whenever required.

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Importantly, stay connected for further updates on the availability of the stars in the preseason opener.