Right now, “load management” is the biggest buzz phrase around the NBA. Amidst all the talk the last several months that the Los Angeles Lakers should use it on LeBron James, it would ultimately be a bad idea.
The issue of “load management” has become the NBA’s version of a hot-button issue lately. With Kawhi Leonard missing five of the Los Angeles Clippers’ first 14 games, and with other superstars such as Joel Embiid looking to go down the same road, many have speculated the Lakers will do that with LeBron James.
Well, James missing games here and there simply for “load management” would be a bad idea.
On one hand, I get the benefits of players missing games for that reason. I agree it would help keep them fresh, not to mention extend their careers.
But the downsides far outweigh the benefits.
No doubt, this is a controversial topic that will be debated back and forth for months and maybe years to come. Mark Cuban has publicly stated that he’s in favor of load management, but this is something that the NBA and athletic community is definitely divided on, at least right now.
Here are four reasons why it would be a bad idea for the Lakers to use load management on LeBron James, and how it could ultimately prevent them from winning the franchise’s 17th NBA championship this June.
By extension, these are also reasons why it’s a bad idea for any team to use load management on a player who’s not injured in any way.