Is LeBron James playing tonight against the Utah Jazz? (9th April, 2023)

LeBron Jame's 'Game Time Decision' status on injury reports raises suspicion on the superstar's fitness

Is LeBron James playing tonight against the Utah Jazz? (9th April, 2023)

LeBron James (Image via CNN)

LeBron James is one of the most prolific players in the game. Playing for over 20 years now James is certainly a player who can lead his side into the NBA playoffs. He’s won four championships in his career and has been awarded the prestigious MVP award just as many times. With his most recent NBA ring coming in the 2019-20 season, James is yet to win a second title with the Los Angeles Lakers.

James was born in Akron Ohio in 1984 and joined the NBA in 2003 as a part of the Cleveland Cavaliers. He then moved to the Miami Heat in 2010 where he paired up with Dwyane Wade to win his first two NBA titles in 2012 and 2013.

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He then moved back to Cleveland and won his third NBA championship in 2016 beating the mighty Golden State Warriors in a phenomenal comeback. In July of 2018, LeBron went to the Los Angeles Lakers and won a fourth championship in the covid affected 2019-20 season.

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Is LeBron James playing against the Utah Jazz?

The Los Angeles Lakers have one last game to go before the regular season comes to an end. As for James’ consistency, he has been playing almost every game since his return from the mid-season foot injury. Needless to say, he along with Anthony Davis has led the Lakers into a formidable side to be genuine contenders for the title. While James is expected to play against the Jazz, the coaching staff could very well have him sit out to save him for the upcoming postseason.

As of now, both James and Davis have been listed as ‘Game Time Decision’ (GTD) under the injury reports. They are accompanied by DeAngelo Russell and Dennis Schroder who are undoubtedly the front-running players for the Lakers. While the Lakers still have a shot at avoiding Play-In and going into the playoffs, it’s not a guarantee. In this case, it would be safe to assume that they would rather lose a game than risk an injury of an important X-factor player. For the time being, LeBron James has a 50-50 probability of playing against the Jazz

Related: LeBron James and Lakers become only fifth team in NBA history to achieve INCREDIBLE feat

Where does LeBron James play?

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LeBron James and Anthony Davis for the Los Angeles Lakers (Image via Fadeaway World)

The Lakers superstar is listed to play as a small or power forward. However, there is nothing that the former MVP cannot do on the basketball court. James, undeniably, plays a pivotal role for his side. Hailed as a premium two-way player James has an authoritative offensive gameplay while also standing back as a solid defender.

James has averaged about 28.8 points with around 8.4 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game in the 2022-23 NBA regular season. Despite missing a healthy amount of games due to an injury his numbers reflect his dominance on the floor. While on paper James always walks into a game as a forward, he takes control and becomes a versatile central point for the Lakers.

LeBron James’ fantasy updates and predictions

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Whether or not James will make a presence remains a strong mystery as the Lakers would like to hold on to their current seventh position. Including the forward in a fantasy team is bound to reap its rewards as he always manages to make a key contribution. His consistent performances and stellar numbers make him an enticing player for any roster.

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LeBron James in action for the Los Angeles Lakers. (Photo Credits: Gary A. Vasquez/USA Today Sports, via Reuters)

However, including James in your fantasy team at this stage of the tournament has its risks. James has been previously listed as a ‘GTD’ consistently. Moreover, as discussed earlier, the Lakers would most likely prefer to keep him out against the Jazz. Another possibility could be James being kept under a ‘minutes restriction’. A strategy mostly used by teams to play their impact players and reduce the chance of injury. The Lakers could turn to this method to ensure a win and also keep James fit for the Play-In.

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