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Dave McMenamin, ESPN Staff Writer
DENVER — LeBron James debuted his 21st season with limited playing time, as the Los Angeles Lakers suffered a 119-107 defeat against the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday. Lakers coach Darvin Ham revealed that this reduced workload for the 38-year-old superstar is part of the team’s strategic plan moving forward.
“It’s crucial to remember that in order for LeBron to perform at his best, we have to be mindful of his minutes on the court and the duration of his stretches,” stated Ham.
The Nuggets dominated the game, leading by as much as 18 points. The raucous Ball Arena crowd of 19,842, gathered to celebrate the Nuggets’ first ring night in franchise history, further fueled their energy.
By the time the crowd started mocking the Lakers with chants of “Who’s your daddy?” in the final minute, James had already concluded his playing time with the Lakers trailing 115-103.
Despite the limited minutes, James still led the Lakers in scoring with 21 points on 10-for-16 shooting. He also tied for the team-high in rebounds with eight, contributed five assists, committed zero turnovers, and achieved the best plus-minus of any Lakers starter with a plus-7 rating.
“I always want to be on the court, especially when I have the opportunity to make an impact and help the team win,” said James. “However, I understand and respect the team’s system, and I will follow it.”
When asked if he would need to adjust his approach due to reduced playing time, James showed confidence in his ability to impact the game even with added rest.
“Aside from the result, I believe I was productive in the time that I was out there,” James stated. “I had a plus-7 rating, and no turnovers. I value the no turnovers the most.”
Last season, James played an average of 35.5 minutes per game, the second-highest in his five seasons with the Lakers. He then missed 27 games due to a right foot injury.
During the Lakers’ media day earlier this month, Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka mentioned collaborating with James to establish a plan that would support him throughout the season.
Ham stated that James’ long-time athletic trainer, Mike Mancias, was consulted in the decision. James expressed his lack of surprise or disappointment regarding the management of his playing time against the Nuggets.
While the team intends to begin the season with James playing around 28-30 minutes per game, Ham acknowledged that this number could fluctuate over time.
“It will be a day-by-day process, relying on how he feels, communication from him, our training staff, and our medical staff,” Ham explained.
As James assumes this adjusted role, the Lakers will heavily rely on 30-year-old center Anthony Davis to deliver a strong performance.
Davis carried the Lakers with 17 points on 6-for-11 shooting in the first half against Denver but failed to score in the second half, missing all six attempts.
“The Nuggets began double-teaming me, attempting to crowd the paint. I missed some easy layups and jumpers,” Davis explained. “I prioritize making the right play and passing to our teammates. If I’m doubled, I’ll kick it out. Rui [Hachimura] had open threes, Gabe [Vincent] had open threes. Unfortunately, they didn’t fall. But I need to take more shots.”
Vincent, who scored six points on 3-for-8 shooting in his Lakers debut, acknowledged the importance of involving Davis but emphasized the need for every player to be aggressive and contribute to the offense.
“We’ll continue trying to get him involved, but it’s crucial for everyone to stay aggressive,” Vincent said. “We found ourselves standing still and watching too often. We all need to be aggressive and bring our best game. We’ll continue finding ways to involve Davis and optimize our offense.”
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