Going into Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Hawks, the Los Angeles Lakers had LeBron James listed as questionable because of an elbow injury he suffered against the Miami Heat on Friday.
James could have easily asked Frank Vogel to take the night off, and Vogel likely would have obliged. After all, the Hawks were in in the midst of a three-game losing streak and were tied for the second-worst record in the league. He also had a safety valve in Anthony Davis at his disposal.