Report: LeBron James Not Playing In 2019 World Cup, Might Join Team USA

LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers will need some time to get over the bad season. They are officially out of the playoff race, and LeBron will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2005. In other words, LeBron will have plenty of free time. But he won’t be using it to play in the 2019 World Cup.

Joe Vardon of The Athletic reported on LeBron’s future plans.

“The longest offseason of LeBron James’ career is under way. He didn’t even make it to April. It will be late September before he practices again with the Lakers, and he won’t play another game until October. Making his first comments since the Lakers shut him down for the remainder of this season, LeBron told The Athletic he is not going to pretend this is just another summer.

“’I like being uncomfortable in the offseason,’ he said. ‘I like being counted out. It motivates me.’

“There will be a full NBA playoffs for him to sit and watch — something he hasn’t done since 2005 — and he won’t be a part of the Finals for the first time since 2010. There are serious doubts around the league over whether the Lakers can successfully make the splash in free agency to add a second star to pair with James, or make a trade to accomplish that goal.”

According to Yahoo Sports, the “Space Jam 2” production schedule is based on the fact that LeBron won’t play for team USA.

“The “Space Jam 2” production schedule was based on the knowledge that, regardless of when the Lakers’ season ended, LeBron would not play for Team USA. On the other hand, LeBron has not ruled out a return to Team USA for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Japan.

“’Yeah, that’s a possibility,” LeBron said of Tokyo 2020. “It depends on how I feel. I love the Olympics.’”

LeBron didn’t take part in the 2016 Olympics, and he still regrets it. He will turn 35 in 2020, and his body may not be able as strong as it used to be.

The 2019 World Cup in China will attract many stars, and James Harden may be one of them.