LOS ANGELES — Within minutes of wrapping up a dominating victory, LeBron James was in an ice bath on Tuesday night, soaking his taxed muscles. It was the final piece of a game-day routine that would ensure the Lakers’ 41-year-old star will be ready to play the next game.
“He’s going to do everything he possibly can to play,” Coach JJ Redick said. “His 23rd year. It’s remarkable. His competitive stamina is off the charts.”
James had been listed as questionable before Tuesday’s game against the Atlanta Hawks because of ongoing sciatica pain and arthritis in his foot. The game was the second night of a back-to-back set and James had declared earlier this month that “every back-to-back for the rest of the season is TBD. I am 41. I got the most minutes in NBA history. Bank it right now.”
He didn’t have to play, but the Lakers were on a three-game losing streak, so James played, just missing a triple-double with 31 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists in 141-116 victory.
James said he doesn’t know beforehand how well he will perform. It’s a feeling.
“It’s the rhythm of the game, how my body is feeling, how I’m reacting. My stop and go,” James said. “There’s a lot of factors to know if I got my pop or not, you know. I’ve had a lot in my career, so I’m able to definitely gauge and see where I’m at during the course of the game.”
To get ready to play Tuesday, James went through a lengthy pregame routine. After waking up, he got into an ice bath, then a hyperbaric chamber and capped the morning with a nap.
He played a golf video game, used compression pants for 45 minutes, took a shower, got dressed and drove to Crypto.com Arena. His regime was far from over, though.
His pregame routine consisted of activation, treatment, rehab, stretching, weightlifting and mentally focusing while watching television. He then met with his long-time trainer Mike Mancias.
“Me and Mike looked at each other, and he looked at me, asking me, ‘what you thinking?’ I said ‘I think I feel pretty good.’ And then there’s a pregame meal in between there,” James said.
For the past two seasons, Redick has had a front row seat to how much James cares not only about extending his Hall-of-Fame career, but the sport itself. He also has watched how the NBA’s career scoring leader has had to deal with the disrespect he receives from the outside.
“I don’t take for granted the LeBron stuff. It’s unfortunate, actually,” Redick said. “Not to go on a little tangent here, but it’s actually unfortunate how much this guy puts into it (basketball) and how much he cares and the way certain people talk about him. It’s crazy. Come be around him every day and see how much this guy cares. It’s off the charts.”
Asked what he meant by unfortunate, Redick explained how people love to tear down greatness. Niceness doesn’t generate internet clicks.
“That’s the nature of envy,” he said. “You’re not going to get a response by saying something nice about somebody, by acknowledging someone’s greatness, by acknowledging how much they care and how much they work and how much they’ve accomplished and continue to accomplish and continue to go after something. I mean, you got to say something bad about him. You got to go on TV and knock him. … It’s all just nuts. Be around him every day.
“He’s unbelievable.”
Like so many of the players tasked with trying to guard him over his career, James shakes off the critics and haters. He’s been doing it since high school.
“It’s been like that for quite a while now,” James said. “I just hope that once I’m done, I will have made an impact for the people that follow my career and watch me, my people that have been locked down with me for over 23 years.
“That’s all that matters, my crew that’s been with me and everything doesn’t matter.”
HORNETS AT LAKERS
When: Thursday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Crypto.com Arena
TV/radio: Spectrum SportsNet/710 AM, 980 AM