Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James missed the start of the regular season for the first time in his career due to a sciatica issue he first started to experience in the offseason.
Playing in a historic Year 23 as the oldest player in the NBA, James is single-handedly redefining how long a player can feasibly play in the league. There have been numerous players who have come and gone during James’ career, yet the Lakers star continues to play a large part in his team’s success.
However, as James has gotten older he’s been forced to manage different types of injuries and ailments that haven’t popped up before. For example, James was held out of the Lakers game against the New Orleans Pelicans for injury management purposes.
The team said James is dealing with a foot issue that he’s been dealing with previously and the star acknowledged it’s simply a by-product of getting older.
“It’s called old. You get it, you understand,” James said to a group of reporters. “You just wake up with shit that you didn’t have before, you know?”
LeBron’s comment was largely tongue in cheek, though there’s truth to it as he likely wakes up with aches and pains despite his best efforts to keep his body fresh. James is notorious for staying in shape and taking care of himself physically, but even he is starting to see himself decline as he continues to tack on the minutes and miles.
This year’s roster offers LeBron at least some reprieve as the Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves are more than capable of handling the offensive load. The guard duo was able to hold down the fort in James’ absence, and the organization can afford to give the 40-year-old rest days throughout the regular season.
Head coach JJ Redick revealed that the plan is for James to play in back-to-backs at some point this season, but the team will take a cautious approach given his age and injury history. The best version of the Lakers includes a healthy LeBron, so keeping him upright and fresh will be key to competing in a tough Western Conference.
LeBron James believes defense will decide how great Lakers can be
With LeBron James back in the lineup, the Lakers have been one of the best offenses in the league. While scoring has been easy for Los Angeles, James believes that the team’s defense will decide how great the purple and gold can be.
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