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In the midst of the fourth quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers’ first home game, Kevin Durant made a move off a screen, catching the attention of the crowd at the Crypto.com Arena. LeBron James, facing off against his longtime peer for the first time in over 1,700 days, stepped up to guard him. This brief encounter held significant value, emphasizing the fleeting nature of their remaining matchups. The audience, as well as LeBron himself, recognized the importance of sharing the court with such a remarkable player and didn’t take the opportunity for granted.
There was a time when LeBron was vehemently defying any notions of his decline, embracing the moniker #WashedKing as he led his team to victory in 2020. However, those days are now in the past. As the oldest active player in the NBA, LeBron has reached a stage of acceptance. He appreciates what he still has to offer on the court and has made it his goal this season to preserve his energy and abilities. During the summer, LeBron, along with his trainer Mike Mancias, the Lakers’ front office, and coaching staff, devised a maintenance plan to ensure he enters this year’s playoffs with fresh legs. The Lakers’ championship aspirations depend on how well they can leverage LeBron’s current capabilities while safeguarding his potential contributions in the spring.
With five minutes remaining in Thursday’s game, during a Lakers timeout, there was a moment of uncertainty. Would the LeBron vs. KD matchup be the last of the night? LeBron had already played 30 minutes and had his playing time restricted following a 29-minute outing against the Denver Nuggets on opening night. Yet, a decision had been made to overlook that monitoring. LeBron was the first player to leave the huddle and return to the scorers table, discarding his towel before reentering the game. What followed were reminiscent moments of LeBron’s prime, with powerful drives to the rim and a showdown between him and KD on a transition play that resulted in free throws. James took command of the offense, playing the entire fourth quarter and a total of 35 minutes. He demanded the ball after defensive stops and ran numerous pick-and-rolls with Anthony Davis. Thanks to Davis and Christian Wood’s effective defense against Durant, as well as LeBron’s late heroics on offense, the Lakers secured a 100-95 victory against the shorthanded Suns. Lakers coach Darvin Ham expressed his admiration for LeBron’s performance, acknowledging the team’s reliance on every ounce of his contributions.
Throughout the season, Ham will continuously face the decision of when to give LeBron a breather. Against the Suns, with the Lakers trailing by 12, Ham asked LeBron if he felt capable of playing the full duration of the game, armed with three timeouts to provide him with breaks. LeBron assessed the score, time, and game situation and made the decision to keep playing. Ham joked that he had already saved LeBron from himself in Denver three nights ago. Ham acknowledged the scrutiny surrounding his choices, emphasizing that there will always be criticism regardless of whether he leaves LeBron in or takes him out of the game. Sometimes, one must be content with what they have.
In the past, LeBron offered a seemingly endless supply of exceptional performances, from scoring barrages to triple-doubles. However, the focus on his playing time stems from the impact it has on the outcome of games. When LeBron was substituted out against the Nuggets, the Lakers were trailing by four. By the time he checked back in a minute and 44 seconds later, the Nuggets had increased their lead to 12. Against the Suns, LeBron’s plus-minus was +22, saving the Lakers from starting the season with two losses. Even if LeBron’s new upper limit for playing time is 35 minutes, which was his average last season, it is still impressive. The management of LeBron’s workload will be fluid and dependent on various factors, not just his minutes.
To help LeBron strike the right balance, the Lakers have tasked Anthony Davis with a more significant role this season. As LeBron begins to plan for his succession, Davis is expected to lead the team both on and off the court while being a consistent two-way force. However, this puts Davis in a challenging position, often requiring him to be in two places at once on the court. While Davis possesses the necessary size, agility, and intelligence to fulfill these demands, it presents difficulties for a 30-year-old big man with a history of injuries. Davis has faced criticism for inconsistency, and it is evident that the Lakers’ struggles in transition and on the boards can often be attributed to him being overcommitted due to the team’s requests. Against the Nuggets, Davis attempted to overpower Nikola Jokic, which led to several transition baskets for Denver. While Davis played a crucial role in containing Durant against the Suns, it left the paint vulnerable. There will be moments when Davis can cover all bases effectively, but additional support from someone other than LeBron will be essential.
In Thursday’s game, Christian Wood stepped up to the challenge. The Lakers reinforced their frontcourt during the offseason, including the signing of Wood, reminiscent of a younger Davis playing as a power forward in a faster-paced league. Two-big lineups are becoming popular once again, evident in the success of the Lakers’ closing lineup against the Suns. The combination of Davis and Wood, both standing at 7-feet tall, frustrated Durant on defense, limiting his vision and forcing him into difficult shots and turnovers. Wood also excelled in rebounding, securing six defensive rebounds in the fourth quarter. Davis is undoubtedly the key to solving most of the Lakers’ issues, but accounting for potential regression from one of the league’s most dominant and versatile players will require a collective effort from the team’s role players.
The Lakers have made moves during the offseason to ease LeBron’s burden on the court. Rui Hachimura, who re-signed with the team, worked out with LeBron throughout the summer to learn from him. The return of players like Austin Reaves and D’Angelo Russell, along with the acquisition of Gabe Vincent in free agency, provides the Lakers with a variety of ball handlers. This allows LeBron to share the playmaking responsibilities. However, during the game against the Nuggets, LeBron struggled with this adjustment, and he had to remind assistant coach Phil Handy that he is capable of playing point guard. There is no guarantee that LeBron will always display the same level of adaptability.
As the season progresses, the Lakers will navigate the balance of managing LeBron’s workload and maximizing the potential of their roster. It will require collaboration and adaptability from all players, with Anthony Davis playing a pivotal role in both the offense and defense. The Lakers are striving for success, knowing that their championship aspirations depend on utilizing LeBron effectively while taking into account the risks associated with his workload.
