LeBron James to Miss Lakers' Preseason Opener Due to Age, Says Coach

Veteran Star to Sit Out Exhibition Game as Team Manages Workload

Head Coach Darvin Ham Prioritizes Health and Recovery for 38-Year-Old Forward

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James will not participate in the team's preseason opener on Monday due to his age, head coach Darvin Ham announced on Saturday. The decision is part of a larger strategy to manage the workload of the 38-year-old forward, who is entering his 20th NBA season.

Ham emphasized that the decision was not injury-related and that James remains healthy. However, the team is being cautious with his minutes to ensure he is ready for the regular season, which begins on Oct. 18.

"We just want to be smart about it," Ham said. "He's still recovering from the Finals and the run that he had last year. We want to be smart and make sure that we're not putting him in a position where he could potentially get hurt."

James has played in all 82 regular season games just once in his career, back in the 2008-09 season. In recent years, he has missed significant time due to injuries, including a high ankle sprain that sidelined him for 27 games last season.

The Lakers are hoping to avoid another injury-plagued season for James, who is considered one of the greatest players in NBA history. The team has added several new pieces this offseason, including point guard Dennis Schroder and center Thomas Bryant, and is expected to be a contender in the Western Conference.

"We're going to be cautious with him and make sure that he's ready to go when the regular season starts," Ham said. "He's still a very important part of this team, and we need him to be at his best."