The Los Angeles Lakers begin the 2024-25 season with their first preseason game on Oct. 4 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Training camp just started on Oct. 1, and this is the first of six warm-up games for the veteran squad.
LeBron James is fresh off a stellar Olympic performance for Team USA. He turns 40 in December but remains elite. The King has a bit of extra juice this preseason with his son on the Lakers roster. The duo sharing the floor with be an NBA first and fulfill a dream for LeBron.
Fans may not have to wait long to see King James and Bronny on the court together. First-year head coach JJ Redick has a preseason plan, but he is forgetting one crucial thing in the decision.
JJ Redick forgets LeBron James is 39 years old with preseason plan
Redick made it clear that James and Anthony Davis will play this weekend as the Lakers begin their preseason. Both veterans took part in the Olympics for Team USA and had a shorter offseason. They are adjusting to a new coach, but are just under three weeks from opening night.
LeBron has played 68,456 minutes of NBA basketball including the playoffs in his career, which is over 2,000 more minutes than anyone else in league history. The last thing the Lakers need is James logging playing time in a meaningless early preseason contest.
Redick did not commit to how much LeBron would be used, but there is zero reason to risk him. The Lakers season depends on James. They were in the Play-In Tournament last season with James playing 71 regular season games. The GOAT is still their best player, and Los Angeles has gone 27-37 without King James in the lineup over the last three years.
Most teams only play four preseason games, but the Lakers have six. They always play the maximum for some extra revenue. That is fine in theory, but problematic with a superstar pushing 40. Coach Redick turned 40 in June and has been retired for three full seasons. Fans may remember he hung it up in part because of injuries.
Hopefully, this plan does not backfire, but it has disaster written all over it. There is no need to play LeBron James yet. He missed three of the team’s six preseason games last season and played 71 games for the first time since 2018. Rest is important for the veteran, and the Lakers must give him plenty this preseason. Keep him out early and let him ramp up over the final few games to hit the ground running in the regular season.
The Los Angeles Lakers need LeBron James, and he is ready to deliver with his son on their roster. There will be plenty of excitement and storylines this season, so buckle up for a wild ride.