LeBron James, the NBA’s oldest player, has a long history of being one of the busiest. Over his 20 NBA seasons, he has averaged an impressive 38.1 minutes per game. Even at the age of 38 last season, he tied for the 19th highest minutes per game in the league at 35.5. James is known for his desire to be on the court and control every aspect of the game. Sitting on the bench goes against his nature.
However, in the recent season opener against the Denver Nuggets, James had no choice but to spend time on the bench as his Los Angeles Lakers lost. He played just 29 minutes in the game, and during the 19 minutes he was off the court, the Lakers were outscored by 19 points. In the past, it would have been unthinkable to see James on the bench for that long. Last season, he played fewer than 29 minutes in a game only once, due to a hand injury.
So, will this limited playing time become a trend for James? Lakers coach Darvin Ham hinted that it might be. James himself admitted that he would follow the system in place. However, in the past, he has pushed back against the idea of playing less as he ages, believing that he doesn’t need more rest.
The Lakers have their reasons for limiting James’ minutes. They want to keep him fresh and healthy, especially after he missed 27 games last season and was visibly affected by injuries in the playoffs. By reducing his playing time, they hope he will be able to make better use of the minutes he does play and perform at his best.
But it’s not just about James. The Lakers have built their roster with the idea of surviving without him on the court for extended stretches. Players like Austin Reaves, D’Angelo Russell, and Gabe Vincent were brought in to provide ball-handling skills. While they didn’t perform well in the season opener, the Lakers believe they will improve as the season progresses.
Ultimately, the success of the Lakers relies on executing this plan and ensuring that they win enough games to make it to the playoffs. James’ reduced minutes are part of this strategy, but the rest of the team needs to step up and contribute. Otherwise, another deep playoff run will be a challenge.
Overall, James’ limited playing time in the season opener raised eyebrows, but it appears to be a calculated move by the Lakers to maximize his performance and minimize the risk of injury. Time will tell whether this becomes a long-term trend for one of the NBA’s greatest players.
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