LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) – Los Angeles Lakers guard Avery Bradley will not join the team in Orlando when the league resumes its season next month.
Avery Bradley looks to pass the ball in a game against the New Orleans Pelicans on February 25, 2020, in Los Angeles. (False images)
The 29-year-old told ESPN on Tuesday that the main reason for doing so is for the well-being of his 6-year-old son, Liam, who has a history of difficulty recovering from respiratory illnesses, making it unlikely that he he would have been medically cleared to enter the Orlando bubble with the family.
“As committed to my Lakers teammates and organization as I am, I finally play basketball for my family,” Bradley told ESPN. “And so, at a time like this, I can’t imagine making a decision that can put my family’s health and well-being at the slightest risk. As promised, I will also use this time to focus on forming projects to help to strengthen my communities ”.
Bradley, along with Brooklyn Nets shooting guard Kyrie Irving, led the momentum among players to avoid a restart of the season to focus on the social issues of racial inequality and police brutality currently under discussion.
Bradley started 44 games for the Lakers this season, emerging as a key two-way threat to help the team to the best record in the Western Conference. With Bradley’s decision not to play, the Lakers will be able to sign a player to replace him. ESPN reports that former Cavaliers guard JR Smith has become the top candidate to do so.
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