[Saba Sports News] LeBron James played only 29 minutes during the Los Angeles Lakers’ Opening Night loss to the Denver Nuggets, sparking discussions about his reduced playing time. Despite the limited minutes, he led the Lakers in scoring with 21 points on an efficient 10-for-16 shooting.
After the game, Lakers head coach Darvin Ham indicated that James’ 29 minutes could become a recurring trend for the season, though it may vary based on James’ physical condition and input from the training staff. James himself acknowledged the plan to manage his minutes, understanding the need for a structured approach.
While a slight reduction in playing time may not seem significant, James averaged 35.5 minutes per game for the Lakers last season and maintains a career average of 38.1 minutes per game. Therefore, playing 29 minutes per game would constitute nearly a 20 percent reduction from last season and almost a 25 percent drop from his career average.
Considering James is approaching 39 years old and in his 21st NBA season, such minute management is sensible. However, it could pose challenges for the Lakers, given that James remains their best player. In their recent loss to Denver, James had a team-high plus-seven rating, and the Lakers struggled significantly when he was on the bench.
Co-star Anthony Davis had a tough night, the starting backcourt underperformed, and the team faced difficulties whenever James was not on the court.
While it’s clear that James’ teammates will need to step up, the Lakers’ current approach to the season may present challenges if his minutes continue to be consistently managed.