Lakers Should Rest LeBron, Coach Walton Says 3-Time Champion Will Decide Return

LeBron James will be missing his 14th straight game when the Los Angeles Lakers take on the Golden State Warriors on Monday night at the Staples Center after suffering a going strain against the same opponent on Christmas Day.

The small forward was given clearance to return to full practice this week when he was analyzed by the medical staff Wednesday and coach Luke Walton revealed before the game against the Warriors that James had stepped up his participation in practice drills.

It is unclear when James will make a return to court with his agent making it clear the three-time NBA champion will only return when he his fully fit. They are not willing to rush his return in the fear of aggravating the injury and causing potential long-term damage.

Walton said he took part in practice on Sunday, but revealed that he has still not joined full contact training which indicates he is still not close to making a return. The head coach also echoed James’ agents' comments and suggested that his forward is likely to return once he feels healthy enough.

"We came in [Sunday] and had a get-what-you-need day, so he got out here on the court, got up and down a little bit, did all our shooting, some 5-on-0, non-contact stuff,” Walton said of James, as quoted on Lakers Nation. “He went and got treatment and Rondo stayed out here and scrimmaged with some of the guys.”

“You like to get guys a full day of practice and whatnot, and we will. We’ll manipulate the practice schedule however we need to get [James] playing against some people. I would imagine once he feels healthy enough to go that he’ll go,” the Lakers coach added.

The Lakers are struggling without their talisman as they have dropped from fourth in the Western Conference to eighth and could drop out of the playoff places if they lose to the Warriors on Monday night. They will need him to return sooner rather than later if they are to return to challenging for a place in the playoffs.

However, Paul Pierce believes the Lakers should not rush James back from his injury and give him as much time as he needs to fully recover. The Boston Celtics legend admits it is not make-or-break for the Lakers with James this season.

The 14-time NBA All-Star signed a four-year deal when he joined as a free agent in the summer and Pierce feels they should preserve him this season in order to get the best out of him in the next three years during which time they hope to be challenging for the title.

“They’re going to need him more than ever to get back in the playoff race but just think about the heavy load he’s going to have to carry at this age," he told ESPN’s “The Jump”. “They don’t want this scenario, the Lakers. They’re not playing for a championship this year anyway.

“The way things are going I would rest LeBron for as long as possible. If they don’t make the playoffs then so be it. Maybe you get a draft pick or something. It’s not about this year for the Lakers, it’s obvious. This is a four-year plan for them," he said.

“LeBron is still great and you’ve got to preserve as much of LeBron as you can. You’ve got to squeeze the last juice you’ve got out of him,” the Celtics legend explained. “He’s still great but you don’t want to have to push him too hard when he comes back. He’s going to have to do everything just to get them in the playoffs from where they’re at now.”