JJ Redick didn’t mince his words when asked by a reporter when superstar LeBron James would be back with the team on Friday night.
James has been away from the Los Angeles Lakers since Wednesday due to what has been described as ‘personal reasons’, with much speculation surrounding the reasons for his absence.
When asked by a reporter ahead of Friday night’s game in Minnesota if he knew when James would be back with the team, Redick simply replied: ‘No.’
The 39-year-old’s absence was revealed on the same day he was called out by MMA fighter Colby Covington for his past ties to Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs.
At a press conference, Covington referenced a video of James joining Combs on an Instagram Live video four years ago.
‘Hey, everybody know, ain’t no party like a Diddy party,’ James told Combs in the clip, which went viral in September.
LeBron James is away from the Lakers and there is no word about when he will return
JJ Redick kept his answer short when reporters queried how long James will be missing for
‘What does LeBron mean by that? How many Diddy parties has he actually attended?,’ Covington asked at a press conference Wednesday.
Combs was arrested in September in Manhattan after a probe into alleged sex trafficking, and he is accused of drugging and raping victims as young as nine.
Combs, who faces over 100 sexual abuse allegations, is known to have thrown the extravagant ‘freak-offs.’
These parties would allegedly turn into large orgies, which sometimes lasted for days.
Combs continues to insist he has been wrongfully accused, and maintains that while sordid, the parties were all consensual.
There is nothing to suggest that LeBron’s absence from the Lakers is related to any Combs allegations.
Revealing the news on Wednesday, Lakers coach Redick told reporters: ‘LeBron is not with the team right now. He’s out for personal reasons, excused absence.’
An old clip of James talking to Diddy (right) on Instagram Live has resurfaced in recent weeks
The NBA legend, pictured with wife Savannah, will celebrate his 40th birthday this month
He added that the veteran is ‘taking some time’ and did not have a timeframe for when James would return to the team.
Last week, James was on the Lakers’ injury report with foot soreness, and on Friday he was listed as out with a left foot injury.
Sunday against Portland was the first game James has missed this season, and he made it two with his absence from the trip to Minnesota.
He did not appear to have traveled with the team and was not on the bench for the game.
On Sunday night, the Lakers are back in LA to face the Memphis Grizzlies.
James’ absence also comes after he has been shrouded in trade rumors this week.
The Golden State Warriors are said to be monitoring the veteran as they search for a second star to join Steph Curry, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported this week.
‘The Warriors have dreamed of pairing LeBron with Steph Curry and Draymond Green since last year,’ he said on the network’s ‘Get Up.’
MMA fighter Colby Covington appeared to call out James for his past ties to Sean Combs
James and son Bronny became the first-ever father-son duo to play in the NBA
‘They’ve made an inquiry and it got shut down last February. That was before LeBron played with Steve Kerr and Steph Curry and won the gold medal over the summer.
‘So, they will definitely monitor the situation, and I don’t think they do anything without knowing this door is locked, but I would just say with LeBron, it’s up to him. He has a no-trade clause and he has given no indication he wants the Lakers to do anything but upgrade the roster they’ve got, not that he wants to go anywhere.’
James fulfilled his dream of playing alongside his son, Bronny, in the NBA this season when the 20-year-old was selected by the Lakers in the second round of the 2024 Draft.
They became the first-ever father-son duo to suit up alongside each other in an NBA game during the Lakers’ season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 22.
