A new Netflix series has pulled back the curtain on 2023-24 when Lakers star LeBron James started the season on minutes restriction.
In a scene from the Netflix’s Starting 5 documentary series, James is heard saying during a game with multiple members of the team in earshot, “Yeah I know. I know y’all got me on f—–‘ old man time percentages and s—. Play eight minutes and s—. Two shots in eight minutes, just getting cardio. I hate this s— already. This sh*t’s garbage. Y’all know I’m in better shape than everybody.”
The almost 40-year-old only played 29 minutes in that game against the Nuggets, which the Lakers went down in 119-107.
The head coach at the time, Darvin Ham told reporters after the game that “in all likelihood” the team would continue to keep a close eye on LeBron’s minutes.
Ham also said the number could build up depending on how Bron was feeling and what the team’s staff decides.
The minutes restriction ended up lasting all of one game.
In LA’s second game of the season, James was right back to playing 35 minutes against the Suns and told reporters it was “easy” call when Ham asked if he wanted to play the entire fourth.
“I know how much work I’ve put in to be able to play quarters or whatever the case may be,” James said. “And I understand that we definitely have a system put in place, but tonight called for me to go outside the box.”
Obviously Ham and the coaching staff were trying to rest LeBron to keep him healthier for later in the season.
But LeBron ended up averaging 35.3 minutes last season, just below the 35.5 minutes he averaged the season before with Ham and the Lakers.
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