"Oh f***, he's not God" - Former LeBron James coach makes eye-opening realization about his mortality

LeBron James and the LA Lakers (13-11) are struggling this season despite initially getting off to a strong start to the year. The team is eighth in the Western Conference, going 3-7 in their last 10 games. In addition to James' struggles as of late, the team is struggling defensively and hasn't shown the same physicality that coach JJ Redick emphasized since taking the reins of the franchise.

According to James' former assistant coach, this may be the first sign that the future Hall of Famer is human. In an ESPN article by Dave McMenamin, an anonymous former assistant coach, who worked with James, weighed in.

With 66 turnovers in 13 games (the most during any 13-game stretch of his career) and struggles from downtown, the anonymous assistant called LeBron's struggles "eye-opening."

"He had that stretch where he looked probably as human as he's never looked in his career," the assistant coach said. "It seems like he's prolonged it more than anybody ever has, but at some point, he's going to just reach a point where he can't do it.

"And it seems like that day is getting closer and closer now. I don't think it's yet. I think that was just a rough stretch, but I think it is eye-opening to see it like, 'Oh f---, he's not God.' He's, at some point, going to not be able to do this anymore."

"He's out for personal reasons" - JJ Redick discusses LeBron James' absence heading into Friday's game against Minnesota

This past weekend, LeBron James sat out as the Lakers picked up a 107-98 win over the Portland Trail Blazers with a foot injury. While the team may not have needed his help to get a win over a struggling Trail Blazers team, LA is preparing to play the Minnesota Timberwolves on the road.

On Wednesday, JJ Redick said LeBron didn't travel with the team to Minnesota. After practice on Wednesday, Redick told reporters (via ESPN):

"LeBron is not with the team right now. He's out for personal reasons, excused absence."

Although it's unclear what exactly the reason for his absence is, fans have theorized that all of the talk surrounding James potentially being traded to Golden State could have something to do with his absence.

Redick, however, referenced James' foot while discussing his absence from Sunday's game. In addition, he also spoke about James' workload, and how it's impacted the four-time champ.

"In game, he's asked for a sub a couple times because he's gassed," Redick said. "For us, we have to be cognizant as we play more and more games, just the cumulative effect of playing a lot of minutes and Sunday, being banged up with the foot thing, it felt like a good opportunity for him to get some rest."

With his 40th birthday right around the corner, only time will tell what the rest of the season has in store for LeBron James.