LeBron James has gotten to watch the NBA's brand of basketball evolve right before his eyes from 2003 until the modern day. The Los Angeles Lakers superstar is also a student of the game. When James has an insightful comment about the sport, it's usually a worthwhile one.
That is a big reason why his podcast Mind the Game has been an absolute treat for basketball fans to listen to since its inception. A recent episode with Tyrese Haliburton dove into the topic of the rising injuries across the NBA. The reasoning for that was straightforward according to James.
"The game is different," LeBron said. "I want people ... to understand that playing 82 games in the 80s and 90s is not the same as playing 82 games in the 2020s. It's just not. The way we play, the level of pace, the level of the speed that we're playing at, it's a different game now."
James thought this was the explanation for all the soft tissue injuries that were happening around the NBA. Near the start of his career, the high ankle injuries were the major concerns for him and his peers. Now, the 'spread open' game has shifted the concerns in that department for the players.
LeBron points to the NBA’s evolving style of play as the real injury culprit
When James made his debut in the NBA during the 2003-04 season, the average pace of play was 90.1 across the league. That number is hovering around 99.6 in 2025-26.
To contradict James a bit, the 80s did post some high figures when it came to pace. However, the extra element of consistent and regular floor spacing is the thread that pieces together his spot-on assessment of the situation.
In light of that, James called calf injuries the new high ankle sprains. Haliburton was certainly not a player who would disagree with that sentiment, given his unfortunate circumstances in navigating that ailment.
Lakers fans don't have to look far to have James' words backed up either. Austin Reaves is a prime example. The talented offensive guard has been forced to navigate multiple aggravations in his left calf this season.
As a result, the Lakers (rightfully) have given the situation the extra precaution that is necessary. The calf to Achilles injury pipeline is not one that Los Angeles should want to add to any time soon.
If all goes well, Reaves should be back for the Lakers soon. Meanwhile, another NBA player elsewhere will continue to navigate one of these types of situations for themselves.
Sports medicine in basketball should catch up to the new pattern of injuries. James hoped that would be the case. However, the timeline for how long that takes is unclear. NBA stars and fans alike will hope for the most speedy of processes to find the right training, recovery, and prevention methods.