The Los Angeles Lakers have a clear plan in place to help LeBron James extend his prime into the 21st season of his illustrious career. Instead of simply cutting his minutes, the team aims to add talent around him to lighten the load. This approach was emphasized by Lakers coach Darvin Ham during a news conference, where he expressed confidence in James’ ability to take care of himself. The team believes that with the pieces they have in place, other players will step up and contribute significantly early on.
Despite LeBron James’ advancing age (he will turn 39 in December), he has maintained a high level of play. Last season, he averaged 35.5 minutes per game, slightly lower than the previous year but still higher than his first three seasons with the Lakers. Despite his minutes reduction, James remained statistically impactful, averaging 28.9 points on 50% shooting, with 8.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists. However, his body has betrayed him at times, as he has suffered injuries that caused him to miss games. In the last five seasons, he has missed 111 games due to injury, compared to only 71 games in his first 15 years in the league.
Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka commended LeBron James’ work ethic and mental approach during the offseason. Despite the team’s disappointing end to the previous season, James has been consistently dedicated and committed to improving his game. Pelinka described James’ approach as that of a rookie, with early morning workouts and frequent visits to the team’s facilities. The Lakers’ organization recognizes that James’ work sets the tone for the entire team and appreciates his dedication during the offseason.
The Lakers made efforts to keep the core of last season’s team intact, securing contract extensions with players such as Anthony Davis, Austin Reaves, D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, and Jarred Vanderbilt. Alongside these players, the Lakers have also added a mix of talented individuals who bring youth, athleticism, and shooting ability to the team. This includes signings like Gabe Vincent, Taurean Prince, Christian Wood, Jaxson Hayes, and Cam Reddish, as well as two rookies, Jalen Hood-Schifino and Maxwell Lewis. The Lakers aim to provide James with a talented and versatile supporting cast.
The Lakers acknowledge the importance of managing LeBron James’ workload to ensure his health throughout the season. Head coach Darvin Ham jokingly mentioned that James should be exempt from the new resting policy, given his experience and dedication to taking care of his body. Ham also added that he would carefully assess the team’s 82-game schedule to find opportunities to lighten James’ load. The Lakers executive, Rob Pelinka, expressed support for the new resting policy but also suggested eliminating back-to-back games entirely as a potential solution.
Head coach Darvin Ham confirmed that D’Angelo Russell would return as the Lakers’ primary ball handler after being benched during the Denver series. Ham expressed confidence in Russell, calling him a highly intelligent basketball player who possesses a chip on his shoulder. The Lakers believe in Russell’s abilities and value his pride and passion not only for his own performance but also for the success of his teammates.
The Los Angeles Lakers have developed a specific plan to extend LeBron James’ dominance into his 21st season. Instead of solely cutting his minutes, the team aims to surround him with talent while managing his workload. The Lakers recognize James’ work ethic and offseason dedication and have made additions to the roster to complement his abilities. With the right supporting cast and careful workload management, the Lakers hope to maximize James’ impact as he continues to play at an elite level.
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