To begin his 21st NBA season, LeBron James did what fans have been accustomed to seeing him do for the last few decades, impressing with a team-high 21 points (on 10-of-16 shooting) to go along with eight rebounds and five assists in a loss to the Nuggets.
What may come as a surprise is that James did it in just 29 minutes of action.
James, who committed just one foul in the game, was never in foul trouble and he wasn't forced to leave with any type of injury. In fact, James was a huge positive as a plus-seven in the box score during his time on the floor.
With that in mind, why was James' playing time so limited in the season opener? Based on comments from James and Lakers head coach Darvin Ham, fans may need to get used to seeing him play decreased minutes moving forward.
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Why LeBron James could see limited minutes in 2023-24 seasonFollowing LA's loss in the season opener, Ham told reporters "We'll see. In all likelihood yes," when asked if James' 29 minutes should be viewed as a trend this season.
Ham added that the decisions surrounding James' playing time will be made in collaboration with James and the Lakers training staff, an indication that the choice is related to James' recent workload and injury history.
James chimed in on his limited playing time, saying "You always want to be on the floor. … I guess there's a system in place and I'm going to follow it."
Per The Athletic's Jovan Buha, James clarified that he was not upset about the choice and knew how much he would be playing ahead of time.
Last season, James averaged 35.5 minutes over 55 games and only played fewer than 30 minutes five times. James logged even more minutes during the playoffs, averaging 38.7 minutes over 16 games and played fewer than 30 minutes just once.
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Simply put, James has put plenty of miles on his body over the course of his NBA career. James, who is the oldest player in the NBA this season, has played more minutes than any other player in the history of the game, logging over 65,000 minutes heading into this season.
As a result of the heavy usage, he has dealt with a number of injuries in recent years and missed at least 25 games in four of his five seasons with the Lakers. Last season, James was hampered by a serious foot injury suffered in late February that he seemingly powered through during LA's run to the Western Conference Finals.
By playing James in shorter bursts and keeping his playing time lower, the Lakers are attempting to keep the 38-year-old fresh with the bigger picture in mind. The results from James' showing on opening night should be viewed as promising, as the reduced playing time allowed him to look more spry while he was on the floor, increasing his efficiency and effectiveness.
— NBA (@NBA) October 25, 2023The key for the Lakers will be the play of Anthony Davis and their supporting cast. If James' limited minutes will be the plan throughout the regular season, Davis will need to consistently be LA's top contributor and the team's rotational pieces will need to step up in the non-James minutes.
By keeping James fresh throughout the regular season, the Lakers can place themselves in the best position to compete in the postseason while simultaneously doing a service to extend his career. A gradual decrease in playing time could be what allows James' game to age gracefully in his final years on the floor.
LeBron James stats vs. Nuggets29 minutes21 points8 rebounds5 assists10-16 (62.5 percent) field goal shooting1-4 (25.0 percent) 3-point shooting0-1 free throw shooting
