LeBron James (personal reasons) excused from Lakers practice - ESPN

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — The Los Angeles Lakers congregated as a team Wednesday for the first time since Sunday's win over the Portland Trail Blazers, only an important figure was missing from the group: LeBron James.

«LeBron is not with the team right now,» Lakers coach JJ Redick said after practice. «He's out for personal reasons, excused absence.»

James sat out the Blazers game because of soreness in his left foot. It was the first game James, 39, missed all season.

With the schedule providing a break — L.A. plays just two games in a 10-day stretch from Dec. 9-18 — Redick gave the entire team Monday off and designated Tuesday as an optional «get what you need» day.

Redick met with many of the Lakers' players individually Tuesday, but James was not present, the coach said.

The coach was asked about the upcoming break on Sunday and made it clear he would give his players the freedom to use the time as they deemed fit.

«Heck, if somebody wants to go spend a couple of nights in Santa Barbara and relax, that's fine too,» Redick said after the Blazers game. «It's a quarter way through the season.»

Redick added that James is currently «taking some time» and he was unclear whether the 22-year-veteran would be back with the team for their next game, Friday on the road against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Lakers backup center Christian Koloko said James' presence was missed, but he was not worried about him falling behind on the team's schemes because of his absence.

«I mean, we know he already knows everything,» Koloko said. «He's going to come back and he's still going to be the same. He's going to give everything on the court.

»We just got to do our part and just get better so that when he comes back, he can just look at us and