When the NBA tips back off in Orlando, Florida, the Los Angeles Lakers will have to do so without veteran guard Avery Bradley.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Bradley has officially opted out of the restart of the NBA season citing family concerns.
Bradley’s 6-year-old son Liam has a history of struggling to recover from respiratory illnesses, and it is unlikely that he would have been medically cleared to enter the Orlando bubble with his family.
Bradley and his wife Ashley have three children.
“As committed to my Lakers teammates and the organization as I am, I ultimately play basketball for my family,” Avery Bradley said, per the report. “And so, at a time like this, I can’t imagine making any decision that might put my family’s health and well-being at even the slightest risk.
“As promised also, I will use this time away to focus on the formation of projects to help strengthen my communities.”
The Lakers will be able to sign a replacement player for Bradley, and reports indicate that veteran guard J.R. Smith is the leading candidate to be signed by Los Angeles,
