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Lakers: 3 reasons why LeBron James’ injury is a blessing in disguise

By Robert Marvi

Mar 20, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) grabs his leg after a collision with an Atlanta Hawks player in the second quarter at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 20, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) grabs his leg after a collision with an Atlanta Hawks player in the second quarter at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports /
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1. It could help extend LeBron James’ career

It seems like the biggest question surrounding James these days has been how much longer he’ll continue to play at an elite or near-elite level.

When an athlete plays non-stop for many months on end, all that activity and wear and tear has a compound effect. That’s why it’s so important for athletes to rest and recover not just during the offseason, but also whenever they can during the season.

Last year I opined that the NBA’s work stoppage due to COVID-19 may help extend James’ prime a bit, and hopefully, the rest from this ankle injury will do the same thing.

I personally hope that he gives us at least one more MVP-caliber season after this one. After all, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played at a near-elite level until he turned 39, and he even won the Finals MVP at age 38 when he led the Lakers to their first championship over the Celtics in 1985.

By the time the NBA season hits its midpoint, everyone is banged up and wanting some rest and recuperation. James is getting just that, which may hopefully mitigate some of the compound effects that the pounding of a full NBA season would have on him otherwise.

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He is under contract for two more seasons after this one, and we all hope that the LeBron James we have seen this season is much like the version we’ll see next season and the season after that.