LeBron James turned 40 years old in December and is currently playing in his 22nd season. Before the season, he set a goal to play in all 82 games. Yet, once that was out of the question, he is getting more and more rest. The Lakers are trying the same trick again, using the schedule to their advantage and giving their superstar a much-needed rest.
Lakers Trick Schedule Again to Rest LeBron James
The All-Star break provided teams with several days off. The Lakers are the first team to get back on the floor, hosting the Charlotte Hornets tonight. That game was rescheduled due to the fires in Los Angeles earlier this season.
LeBron missed the All-Star game with an injury, and now he is listed as questionable for the game against the Hornets. Earlier, Shams Charania reported that the Lakers might give him two games of rest, meaning he will not play against the Portland Trail Blazers as well.
James last played in Utah against the Jazz on February 12th. If he misses the next two games, he will play again in Denver on February 22nd. That is essentially a ten-day rest for the league’s oldest player.
New Year, Same Trick
Fans might remember that the Lakers did almost the exact same thing in December. The Lakers used the Emirates Cup to rest LeBron James.
The King missed the first game of the season against the Portland Trail Blazers on December 8th. Because of the Emirates NBA Cup, the Lakers played only the Timberwolves on December 13th and the Grizzlies on December 15th. James missed both games due to a “personal leave of absence”. The team and the superstar tried to explain his absence afterward, but it was clear they wanted to give him a rest. LeBron returned to the lineup on December 19th against the Kings, essentially getting ten days off.
LeBron’s Durable Year
This year, the Lakers look like they know how to manage LeBron’s minutes and rest. Despite giving him ten days off, and now probably another ten, he has missed only four games so far. With the new two, that will take him to six missed games total. Last year, LeBron played in 71 games, and he’s on pace to play at least 70 games this season. Of course, injuries can always happen. So far, LeBron and the Lakers have found a way to rest him as much as possible. James has responded with another year of defying Father Time, and in a pursuit of another longevity milestone.
Does LeBron Have an Injury Or Not?
After the All-Star weekend, LeBron’s brand, Uninterrupted, posted a video of him training at home with his daughter. Judging by the looks of it, it doesn’t look like LeBron is seriously injured. But with players who are 40 years old, it is always better to feel safe, right?
Or, you can say that the Lakers are using the schedule to their advantage again and giving their old superstar some time off. When LeBron does come back to play, reporters will surely want to know more about his injury updates.
The Lakers definitely found a way to give James a long rest without being penalized by the NBA. Lakers fans, for one, will be happy for LeBron to rest as much as possible and have him fresh in the postseason. With Luka Doncic now in town, they have their hopes up again.
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