For LeBron James to still be playing at such a high level in his 23rd NBA season at 41 years is truly unbelievable. But the work that James has to put in on his body to step on the court for the Los Angeles Lakers should not go unnoticed.
James has put more miles on his body than anyone in NBA history and it is starting to catch up. James has had some lingering injuries and other physical issues that force him to spend much of his offseason in rehab and recovery mode. But that isn’t the case this year and James is very happy with that.
“Just been chilling, man,” James said when asked how his offseason is going on the latest episode of his “Mind the Game” podcast. “Just taking the whole season in and getting the opportunity to recover. I had a couple bumps and bruises to end the season, but I think we both can agree that an offseason without rehab is a success after a long season, so I’ll take it.”
Of course, James sat out the season opener for the first time in his NBA career this season, ultimately missing the first 14 games of the regular season. But once he did take the court, he missed just eight more the rest of the year and continued to be one of the driving forces of this Lakers team. James even seen diving on the floor for loose balls this season, literally putting his body on the line.
James thrived once he embraced a third option role, but then stepped up as the primary creator once injuries took out Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, leading the Lakers to a playoff series victory over the Houston Rockets.
Once athletes get older, it isn’t necessarily the games themselves that are most difficult, but often it is the recovery aspect as it just takes longer for the body to get to the level it needs to be. For James to put his body through all that he did this season, and just be able to relax instead of rehab now that the season is over, is truly an accomplishment.
LeBron James discusses mindset, timeline going into free agency
Whether James will return for a 24th NBA season remains unclear and he will be an unrestricted free agent this summer should he choose to continue his career. And he recently broke down his mindset going into the offseason as well as giving a rough timeline on when he could make his decision.
If you love our reporting, choose LakersNation.com as a preferred source on Google.
