After back-to-back games where LeBron James struggled, JJ Redick seems to be pushing back on the idea of him playing every game this season.
LeBron James set a high bar to open the season, stating that he wanted to play all 82 games for the Lakers. Just past a quarter of the way through the season, he’s held up his end of the bargain.
However, his performances have not all been LeBron-esque.
He has recently had a span of four games where he scored under 20 points and, in Tuesday’s game, had his worst offensive showing of the season, scoring just ten points in the team’s 109-80 blowout loss to the Wolves.
This was the second night of a back-to-back and LeBron played like it. The 39-year-old struggled to make an impact, missing all four 3-pointers.
After the defeat, JJ Redick admitted that it might not make sense for LeBron to play all 82 games this season (h/t Dave McMenamin/ESPN).
“I don’t know that’s in the best interest of him and us if he does that, but if he’s feeling well and feeling good, then he should play. But we obviously want to ... manage that as best we can.”
If anyone has justification for resting and load managing, it’s the oldest player in the league. He clearly is struggling to get his jumper going and playing back-to-backs on the road doesn’t appear to be the best way to optimize his production in Year 22.
However, LeBron has consistently resisted load management talks and has been outspoken against even having minutes restrictions in the past. So, getting him on board with missing games he can play in will be a challenge.
Another factor to consider, given LeBron’s slow start, is the fact that he didn’t have a traditional offseason. Instead of resting and relaxing away from the game, he played in the Paris Olympics. LeBron logged heavy minutes and played in high-pressure games, helping Team USA win Gold.
He was magnificent and won the 2024 Olympics FIBA MVP award, but perhaps all that mileage prevents him from being his best self now that the regular season is upon us.
When Austin Reaves played for Team USA in the FIBA World Cup in the summer of 2023, he also struggled during the early parts of the NBA season and was even benched for a period of time.
Ultimately, he earned his starting spot back and improved as the season progressed.
So, before the idea that he is washed or that Father Time has caught up to the King, perhaps let’s try giving him a couple of games off and seeing how his body responds after some extra rest.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88.
