With just days before Opening Night, LeBron James' playing status is still unclear.
James did not take part in Friday's practice, and it has now been more than a week since he has been able to fully participate in training camp since receiving an anti-inflammatory injection in his lower back on Oct. 13.
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He hasn't been cleared by Cleveland's medical and training staffs, but he has been incrementally increasing his workload in the past week, according to the team. James played in just two of Cleveland's seven preseason games and stated Friday that he's not positive he'll be on the floor against the Bulls.
"If everything goes right," James told the media. "We feel like we're progressing really well and if we can continue to do that, then I'm optimistic that I'll be able to go."
He was also asked if it was his choice not practicing
''Is it by choice? No, that's the schedule I'm on,'' James said. ''I'm trying to listen to the training staff and not be hard headed. So, I'm going with them. When they tell me I'm cleared to practice, I'll practice.''
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On Monday, Cavs coach David Blatt said James would "absolutely" play against the Bulls for the season opener . Cleveland general manager David Griffin also expressed confidence in James' potential to play, but entertained the possibility of that not happening.
"I don't think that there's any reason that he won't play on Tuesday," Griffin said. "We have no reason to believe that, but we also are of the mindset that it wouldn't be the end of the world if he didn't play on Tuesday. We just want him to get better every day, and he has been, and he's been progressing and feeling like we'd like him to feel."
The Cavs have two more practices scheduled before flying to Chicago on Monday for their game against the Bulls on Tuesday.
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