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Lakers Rumors: Should LeBron James miss the first month of next season?

By Kevin Germany

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 11: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after winning the 2020 NBA Championship over the Miami Heat in Game Six of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 11: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after winning the 2020 NBA Championship over the Miami Heat in Game Six of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

Why LeBron James shouldn’t sit out

If LeBron is healthy, he should play. There are different ways to preserve longevity without sitting players out. LeBron and AD can play half the game while they get up to speed. Their minutes can be managed – as can all their other veterans. It would be smart to give younger players more playing time in the early stages of the regular season.

Moreover, his style of play requires him to play in as many games as possible. LeBron’s fast-twitch muscles need constant stimulation in order for him to stay healthy. He is not physiologically equipped to instantaneously go from zero to 100, whereas Parker, Duncan, and Ginobili were able to because their style of play was less dependent on power and athleticism.

Also, it benefits the team to have him there. He and the other veterans need training camp and/or preseason to be prepared for the regular season, which will mitigate their risk for injury.

Sitting them out may cost them home-court advantage (if there are fans next season). The Clippers choked in the playoffs for several reasons – chief among them was their lack of chemistry and poor conditioning.

LeBron sitting out sets a very bad precedent for the team. Everyone else is going to sit out if LeBron does. That is obviously not going to help their title defense. Securing home-court advantage in the playoffs as early as possible is crucial for the Los Angeles Lakers.

If he plays, everybody else is playing. End of story.

Conclusion:

In short, it would be much wiser to curtail LeBron’s minutes as opposed to letting him miss the first month of the season. LeBron can afford to miss a game or two. The Lakers cannot afford to miss him for a month. He can play half of every game and still be able to stay healthy.

I would rather he sit out for 2 weeks around the midway point of the season if he needs it. Unless if he is clearly hurting or the training staff determines he is at heightened risk for injury, LeBron should play.

Do you agree? Or do you think Danny Green and Jared Dudley will be proven right? That many veterans will sit out the first month of the season?

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Let me know in the comments section!

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