Lakers Coach Darvin Ham Confirms Massive LeBron James Minutes Restriction For The Rest Of The Season
By Jeremiah Santos
(Photo : Justin Tafoya/Getty Images) DENVER, COLORADO - OCTOBER 24: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers walks off the court after losing to the Denver Nuggets in the NBA Opening night game at Ball Arena on October 24, 2023 in Denver, Colorado.
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James on the court for the 2023-24 NBA season, his 21st campaign in the league.
The NBA's all-time leading scorer only played 29 minutes during the team's opening night game against the Denver Nuggets, on Tuesday, October 24.
When questioned about the possibility of James' minutes hovering around 30 minutes for the remainder of the season, Lakers head coach Darvin Ham essentially confirmed it, stating, "In all likelihood, yes."
Meanwhile, James about the idea, but he reassured that he would adhere to the "system in place."
"I always want to be on the floor. Especially if you've got an opportunity to win the game or you feel like you can make an impact. But I guess there's a system in place and I'll follow it," the four-time NBA Most Valuable Player said during the post-game interview.
LeBron James always played heavy minutes
Throughout the course of his 21-season career with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers and having been the centerpiece of the team for most of it, James has maintained an average of 38.1 minutes per game.
In the 2022-23 season, the four-time NBA champion managed an average of 35.5 minutes of action across 55 games, with impressive statistics of 28.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game considering his age.
