LeBron James could miss the Los Angeles Lakers' preseason opener against the Denver Nuggets.

"I don't know," James told ESPN after practice Wednesday when asked about how he plans to manage the preseason schedule. "I don't need preseason games [at this stage of my career] to get ready."

James played in only one preseason game at the outset of the 2017-18 season while he rehabbed an ankle injury.

James played in three preseason games in 2016.