Los Angeles Laker and three-time champion Danny Green says NBA stars will practice load management next season to mitigate the impact of the shortened-offseason.
After playing into October, Green and the veteran-heavy Lakers won’t enjoy the usual time off to recuperate if the season starts as expected in December.
“If we start in December, I think most guys [are like], ‘I’m not going to be there,'” Green told The Ringer NBA Show podcast. “If I had to guess because we have a lot of vets on our team, it’s not like we have a lot of young guys or rookies … to have that quick of a restart, I wouldn’t expect to see [LeBron] there. I wouldn’t expect to see him probably for the first month of the season. He’ll probably be working out with us … but I just don’t expect guys to want to be there, or show up willingly.”
James is coming off his fourth Finals MVP in 17 seasons after carrying the Lakers to their 17th title.
“I think at this moment, and it might be different in two weeks when guys are like, ‘All right, I’m gonna get back in the gym, start working out.’ When we get back in the gym, it’s not right to basketball. It’s, ‘All right, let me start getting into shape’ — lifting a little bit, start running around a little bit. Then I’ll pick up a ball.”
Load management was the buzz word of the 2019-2020 season as Kawhi Leonard, and others took time off during the regular season to mixed results.
Laker Jared Dudley tweeted a warning that this practice could be a lot more common next season.
The show will go on, just don’t cry a river when stars sit out TV games… esp Top teams that played a longer full season … https://t.co/sCw5NmhBLp
— Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) October 26, 2020
The NBA is committed to getting the league back on schedule and playing a full 82-game schedule.
In a year that has been anything normal, just having any players back on their home court will be a welcome sight to fans.