LeBron James, the NBA’s biggest star and Los Angeles Lakers forward, is getting ready for an historic 23rd NBA season. All of this action opens up when the Lakers face the new-look Golden State Warriors on opening night. With his 41st birthday approaching this December, James is doing everything he can to improve his health. His team are committed to a conservative approach in the opening days of training camp to gear him up for a deep springtime playoff push.
James has not participated in the Lakers’ training camp thus far due to “a little bit of nerve irritation in the glute.” Instead, he watched practice in street clothes on Tuesday, putting his health first. His camp had an initial meeting with the Lakers’ front office. This time, they agreed on a strategy that prioritized long-term interests over short-term, trying to keep him healthy for the grueling season that looms.
That was a tough blow for James, but he was still able to boast some gaudy numbers from last year. He averaged 24.4 points, 8.2 assists, 7.8 rebounds. He’s done it to himself, too—setting unsafe and unrealistic goals for himself and announcing big plans including his goal to appear in all 82 games last season. Like many newcomers with an important role to fill, he struggled – only appearing in three of six preseason games. A flare-up with his left foot sidelined him for two games.
The seriousness of James’ commitment to his training is certainly impressive, but it appears he might have pushed himself just a bit too hard last autumn. This prompted concerns regarding his ramp-up process. “So, we’re just playing the long game with LeBron,” said former NBA player JJ Redick, underscoring the Lakers’ strategy.
What the Lakers will miss James in their next game against the Phoenix Suns. Still, the coaching staff is adamant about making sure he’s 100% healed for a much-anticipated return against the Warriors. The intention should be to provide James enough time to return to his best without jeopardizing him with an even greater chance of injury.
“I’m not where I want to be,” LeBron James said. “But I’m saying, like, I don’t want to be where I want to be right now in September. That being said, I got plenty of time and I’m looking forward to the process of getting there.”
James was the focal point of everything the Lakers did last season, dominating every game from the opening tip. He played in all of L.A.’s first 23 games on the season before a slew of injuries started to affect his play on the court. This season, the Lakers are playing it differently, giving him a longer ramp-up period.
Austin Reaves shared insights on James’ involvement even while sidelined: “You know, it’s Bron, he’s always going to observe kind of communicate [what he sees].” Reaves emphasizes the value of James’ leadership and presence — even when he is not physically participating in practice.
As opening night gets closer, the Lakers are still hopeful that James can make a full and speedy recovery. The team is committed to balancing their short-term training goals with the long-term impacts on health. They are doing so in anticipation of what might be a historic NBA season, as LeBron James himself prepares to take part in history, competing this season for his 23rd NBA season.
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