PHOENIX – LeBron James’ preseason is finished, giving the 39-year-old Los Angeles Lakers star a week’s rest between games heading into the regular-season opener Tuesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

 

James was held out of the Lakers’ game Thursday against the Phoenix Suns, and a source familiar with James’ plans confirmed to ESPN that the forward will not play in L.A.’s preseason finale Friday against the Golden State Warriors.

 

TNT’s Jared Greenberg first reported James’ plans on the Lakers-Suns broadcast.

 

James is embarking on his 22nd season, tying Vince Carter for the most in league history.

 

“DNP-old,” Lakers coach JJ Redick joked about James’ reason for rest during his pregame remarks Thursday. ” Taking it out of [Gregg Popovich’s] book.

 

Redick was referring to the San Antonio Spurs coach listing a then-36-year-old Tim Duncan as out for being “old” when his team was in the midst of playing three games in four nights in the big man’s second-to-last season in 2013-14.

 

James finished the preseason with averages of 12 points on 46.9% shooting (57.1% from 3), 4.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 3.0 turnovers in 18.5 minutes over three games. L.A. went 1-2. Redick had originally hoped to use Thursday as an extended dress rehearsal and allow for players to rest Friday in San Francisco on the second night of a back-to-back, but those plans changed with James and Rui Hachimura (calf tightness) both out against the Suns.

 

“I think you have to look at all of the factors and you don’t often get to live in an idealized world in this league, and that’s OK,” Redick said. “You don’t get to live out things exactly the way you want in this league very often, and that’s fine. We did have a dress rehearsal — game-day shootaround, film session, all of that — today. And we’ll do the same for our pregame. It’s just the first time we’ve done that all preseason.

 

“So, we’ve still gotten to do some stuff we’ve wanted to do.

 

SOUTHPORT, Conn. — The Diamond Sports Group’s channels will soon be branded as FanDuel Sports Network.

 

The Diamond Sports Group, which is going through bankruptcy proceedings, and FanDuel made the announcement Friday. Diamond’s channels had been Bally Sports since baseball’s Opening Day in 2021. The name change will take place Oct. 21.

 

Financial terms of the deal were not released.

 

 

Diamond Sports has been in Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in the Southern District of Texas since it filed for protection in March 2023. The company said in a financial filing last year that it had debt of $8.67 billion.

 

The Bally Sports regional networks serve as the TV home to eight Major League Baseball teams, eight NFL teams and 13 NBA teams.

 

Starting next week, Diamond’s 16 regional sports channels will all take the name FanDuel Sports Network.

 

FanDuel TV will have their offerings such as the “Up & Adams” show featuring host Kay Adams, other sports betting shows and other content like horse racing and Euroleague basketball can be shown the Diamond’s regional sports networks.

 

David Preschlack, CEO of Diamond, said the partnership will elevate the fan experience and deepen “the incremental value we provide for our team, league and distribution partners.”

 

For FanDuel, its president for sports, Mike Raffensperger, said it puts the company’s name in front of the nation’s largest group of regional sports networks.